Sweden said it will assist the U.N. in its plan to dismantle Syria's chemical weapons. (File photo: AFP)
Sweden said Thursday it will help the U.N. in the destruction of Syria's chemical arsenal providing an airforce unit and a Lockheed C-130 Hercules.
“The Swedish military aviation unit will be stationed in Cyprus in order to support the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in personnel and equipment transport,” Defense Minister Karin Engstroem said
The OPCW is responsible for supervising the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons, which should be completed by mid-2014 according to a U.N. resolution adopted last September.
The resolution came after a chemical attack against the Damascus suburb of Ghouta on August 21.
According to the rebels, 1,300 were killed during the attack, in which Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denies any involvement.
Norway said Wednesday it was considering a U.S. request to destroy part of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal on Norwegian soil.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende said Oslo will respond “as soon as possible,” while adding that Norway does not have the equipment needed for the destruction process.
