Russia Completes 1st Phase of Chemical Weapons Disposal Effort

Russia has completed the first phase of the effort to dispose its chemical weapons stockpiles.

"This morning Russia can announce worldwide that it has completed the first phase of the effort to destroy its stockpiles of chemical weapons," Zinovy Pak, who heads the Russian Munitions Agency, told reporters Thursday.

General Viktor Kholstov was appointed new head of the Agency yesterday.

Russia has disposed 400 tons of weapons, or 1% of its overall stockpiles - 40,000 tons, said Mr Pak.

Over 396 tons were disposed at the Gorny facility, Saratov region, and more than 6 tons of emergency munitions were disposed earlier under the international community's control.