DHAKA: Russia has no current plans to destroy Syrian chemical weapons on its own territory under a Russia-US deal to eliminate president Bashar Assad’s stockpiles.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said on Thursday, reports The Jerusalem Post.

Asked whether Russia had plans to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons stock on its own soil, Shoigu told the Interfax news agency, ‘No. A decision needs to be taken for this’.

He added, however, that Russia has factories that can handle chemical arms disposal.

BDST: 1939 HRS, SEPT 19, 2013
RoR/RIS