Britain largely disposed of its offensive chemical warfare arsenal - poison gas, including nerve gas - in 1960, the Government disclosed yesterday.

Robert Fisk hears the former Iranian president's reflections on his eight years as leader

Scientists have developed a new process to help countries destroy huge stockpiles of chemical weapons. Nations which have ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention, which comes into force tomorrow, will have 10 years to get rid of their arsenals, which is usually done by incineration. But this produces toxic pollutants and is potentially hazardous, and a British company has come up with a solution which is said to be both safe and environmentally friendly.

President Bill Clinton was savouring his victory yesterday after the Senate, which has a Republican majority, approved ratification of a global ban on chemical weapons by an unexpectedly comfortable margin, just five days before the treaty takes effect worldwide.

President Clinton appeared to be on the verge of a major political victory last night as a series of Senate votes indicated that the United States would agree to join a global ban on chemical weapons.

One of the Clinton administration's most keenly fought political battles may finally be nearing its end with the opening tomorrow of a long- delayed Senate debate on chemical weapons.

There is a new way of dealing with hazardous toxic waste - and it has great green credentials.

A Czech army chemical specialist has revealed new information on how he detected traces of mustard gas while serving in the Gulf conflict.

Ministers have authorised hundreds of Britain's military sites to be checked for dangerous contamination after a series of alarming incidents.

The most hated and despised weapons ever devised will be banned by international agreement next year.The last hurdle to a global, permanent ban on chemical weapons - poison gas and droplets which choke, poison blood or destroy the nervous system - has been passed with Hungary ratifying the international Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). It will come into force on 29 April, after 28 years of negotiations.

The United States and Russia are the only countries that admit possessing substantial stocks of chemical weapons, but, as signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), they will now be obliged to destroy them, along with any large-scale production facilities, writes Christopher Bellamy.

Policeman linked to gun attack. Richard Lloyd Parry reports

Sir: I read the two letters by Charles Secrett and Dr K Vala Ragnarsdottir (12 October) with astonished disbelief.

The Ministry of Defence had been told about the dangers of pesticides to Gulf war troops at least four times by the middle of last year, The Independent has learnt.