Germany may help destroy Syria weapons

US Secretary of State John Kerry made a broad case for limited US military action against Syria for its suspected use of chemical weapons, saying it could not go unpunished for such a "crime against humanity." REUTERS/Larry Downing

US Secretary of State John Kerry made a broad case for limited US military action against Syria for its suspected use of chemical weapons, saying it could not go unpunished for such a "crime against humanity." REUTERS/Larry Downing

Published Sep 15, 2013

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Berlin - Germany is offering to help destroy Syrian chemical weapons following a US-Russian agreement on securing and eliminating Damascus' stockpile.

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement Sunday that Berlin is “prepared to make a technical or financial contribution to the destruction of chemical weapons from Syria.” He didn't elaborate, but officials say Germany has helped destroy chemical weapons in Libya and elsewhere in the past.

Germany in recent weeks has ruled out participating in any military action against Syria and has pushed for action by the long-deadlocked UN Security Council.

Saturday's US-Russian deal involves making an inventory and seizing all components of Syria's chemical weapons program and imposing penalties if President Bashar Assad's government fails to comply will the terms.

Sapa-AP

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