Global Security Newswire

A man waves the Libyan flag in Benghazi during February commemorations to mark the second anniversary of the revolution that ousted longtime dictator Muammar Qadhafi. Libya last week finished destroying a cache of mustard blister agent held in tanks at the country's Ruwagha depot (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon).

Libya on Saturday wrapped up a two-week project to eliminate 8.8 metric tons of mustard blister agent left at the country's Ruwagha facility at the start of the Libyan revolution in 2011, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons announced on Monday.

A technical malfunction halted work at a mobile mustard agent disposal plant shortly before the uprising that began in February 2011 and led to the overthrow of the Libyan government and the death of then-dictator Muammar Qadhafi.

The country still must destroy roughly 1.6 metric tons of mustard agent in munitions, 2.5 metric tons of "polymerized" mustard and 846 metric tons of chemical warfare agent ingredients.

Libya to date has eliminated 22.3 metric tons of material from its declared chemical arsenal, almost 85 percent.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article should have said Libya has yet to eliminate 1.6 metric tons of mustard agent stored in munitions and 2.5 metric tons of "polymerized" mustard.