US to miss deadline for destroying chemical weapons

The United States will miss a 2007 treaty deadline for destroying chemical weapons stockpiles, and the cost of getting rid of them will be $9bn (£6bn) more than expected, a Pentagon official told lawmakers yesterday.

In a meeting with three Alabama lawmakers, EC ‘‘Pete’’ Aldridge Jr, undersecretary of defence for acquisition, technology and logistics, said he altered the completion schedule for at least four of eight incineration sites to answer safety concerns from surrounding residents.