Russian, Chinese warships to provide security in mission to get chemical weapons out of Syria

NICOSIA, Cyprus – A spokesman for the joint Danish-Norwegian operation tasked with ferrying Syria's chemical weapons out of the strife-torn country says warships from Russia and China will provide additional security on the transport leg of the operation.

Maj. Eystein Kvarving says the Russian missile cruiser Peter the Great and a Chinese frigate won't be under Danish-Norwegian command, but will be coordinating closely with it.

Cyprus' defense ministry on Wednesday identified the Chinese warship as the Yan Cheng.

Kvarving said two cargo ships and their warship escorts will set sail Thursday from the Cypriot port of Limassol to waters near Syria where they will wait for orders on when they can head to the Syrian port of Latakia to pick up more than 1,000 tons of chemical agents.