07.10 Part of Syrian Chemical Arsenal Already Destroyed � UN

MOSCOW, October 7 (RIA Novosti) � Syrians have destroyed a part of their chemical weapons stockpile under the supervision of the global chemical weapons watchdog, the UN said on Sunday.

Earlier on Sunday agencies reported that experts from Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had reportedly begun dismantling the country's chemical arsenal.

�The process of destroying Syria�s chemical weapons program began today,� the UN press service and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in a joint statement.

�Syrian personnel used cutting torches and angle grinders to destroy or disable a range of items. This included missile warheads, aerial bombs and mixing and filling equipment,� the statement reads.

The process will continue in the coming days.

Last week, a group of 19 OPCW inspectors and 12 UN officials arrived in Syria. Its members are from Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, China, Canada, the Netherlands and Tunisia.