Chemical inspectors complete verification at 21 sites in Syria: statement

International chemical weapon inspectors have completed verification activities at 21 of Syria's 23 declared chemical weapon sites, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in a statement Monday.

"As of Oct. 27, 2013, inspectors of the OPCW in the OPCW-UN joint mission in Syria completed verification activities at 21 of the 23 chemical weapon related sites declared by Syria," the statement said.

The two remaining sites have not been visited due to security reasons, the statement said, noting that efforts by the joint mission to ensure conditions necessary for safe access to those sites will continue.

Syria submitted a formal declaration of its chemical weapon program three days ahead of the Oct.-27 deadline, together with a general plan of destruction, for consideration by the OPCW Executive Council, the statement added.