A stash of chemical weapons has been discovered inside Libya, the country’s interim prime minister confirmed. Foreign investigators will arrive in the oil-rich nation later this week to inspect and likely dispose of the weapons. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
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Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril said the former Moammar Khadafy-stronghold has no desire to keep the deadly materials.
“We would like to assure you that the new Libya will be a peaceful Libya and that it is in our interests to have no weapons in Libya,†Jibril said, according to the Associated Press.
There is concern among experts that failure to control the weapons of mass destruction found within the country could lead to the destabilization of the entire North African region.
Looting has already taken place at some sites — and piles of munitions have been found in some civilian buildings where they were hidden to avoid being destroyed during NATO airstrikes, according to reports.
The most senior U.N. envoy to Libya told the U.N. Security Council last week that previously undeclared chemical weapons sites have been discovered inside the country since the Khadafy regime toppled, and there was concern about their safety and control.
The discovery proves Khadafy failed to give up his stash of dangerous weapons despite his assurances to the West who sought to dismantle the country’s chemical and nuclear weapons programs.
Khadafy’s regime had “accumulated the largest known stockpile of anti-aircraft missiles,” The U.N.’s Ian Martin said.
“There are international organizations taking care of this issue.â€
A Russian-drafted U.N. resolution will be voted on this week calling for Libyan authorities to destroy stockpiles of chemical weapons in coordination with international authorities.
Khadafy was ousted from power over the summer — and he was killed transitional government forces earlier in October.
