The Chinese frigate Yancheng, which will help escort Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons out of the country, is seen docked at Limassol port on January 5, 2014 in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
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Syrian arsenal to be destroyed at sea
02:33 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

The Chinese ship follows a Danish ship that took away the first load Tuesday

The OPCW and the U.N. are dismantling Syria's chemical weapons arsenal

They plan to be finished by the end of June

Syria agreed to the measure after being blamed for chemical attack that killed hundreds

CNN  — 

A Chinese ship arrived to escort ships picking up chemical weapons materials from Syria on Tuesday, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday.

The frigate Yancheng is working closely with other ships from Russia and Europe, the agency reported, citing a Beijing Foreign Ministry statement.

The international effort to dismantle Syria’s chemical weapons program reached a milestone Tuesday when a Danish commercial ship picked up the first batch of important chemical materials, the group overseeing the work said.

The “priority chemical materials” loaded at the Syrian port of Latakia, and the ship – escorted by Danish and Norwegian warships – left for international waters, the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations said Tuesday.

Caption: A Syrian officer is seen through the wreckage of a vehicle following an explosion in the Mazzeh district of the Syrian capital Damascus on April 29, 2013, which is believed to have targeted the prime minister's convoy. Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi escaped an assassination bid, surviving a blast that targeted his convoy in Damascus, Syrian state television reported. AFP PHOTO/ LOUAI BESHARA (Photo credit should read LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images)
Caption: A Syrian officer is seen through the wreckage of a vehicle following an explosion in the Mazzeh district of the Syrian capital Damascus on April 29, 2013, which is believed to have targeted the prime minister's convoy. Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi escaped an assassination bid, surviving a blast that targeted his convoy in Damascus, Syrian state television reported. AFP PHOTO/ LOUAI BESHARA (Photo credit should read LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images)
Louai Beshara/AFP/Getty Images
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The ship will remain at sea until more chemical materials are made available at the Latakia port for pickup. The chemicals eventually will be taken to locations outside Syria for destruction, the group said.

Tuesday’s move comes a week after a deadline for the first chemical materials to leave Syria. The mission blamed the delay on “the continuing volatility in overall security conditions” and on “logistical challenges coupled with inclement weather.”

Syria’s chemical weapons are targeted for removal and elimination by the end of June.

Syria agreed to have its program dismantled under international pressure last year over allegations the Syrian government used sarin nerve gas in an August 21 attack on a Damascus suburb. U.S. officials said at least 1,400 people died in the attack. Syria denied responsibility, blaming rebel forces.

READ: Syria milestone: Chemical weapons materials on ship for destruction

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