The terrifying picture of a mass-scale chemical attack by rebel groups creates an incentive to get rid of chemical weapons in the world.

So much so that diplomats at the 10-day Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) review conference in The Hague at the weekend agreed to a new target deadline of 2012 for 183 member states to destroy their stockpiles, AFP reported.

However, 12 countries haven't as yet signed the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention treaty or the mission's modified goals.

Diplomats admit that the 2012 target date is unlikely to be met with 100 percent destruction of stocks despite their signed agreement. Countries with large arsenals like India, Libya, Russia and the US are expected to seek and be given extensions.

This is while the head of the conference and Algeria's ambassador in The Hague, Benchaa Dani, told AFP, "The majority of national delegations are convinced that the OPCW can play a part in the fight against terror, for all the threat of toxic substances being used for terrorist goals remains a potential one".

The treaty has so far been ratified by 183 countries which represents 98 percent of the world's population.

However, twelve states have yet to sign or ratify, which include Israel, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.

The OPCW was established under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention treaty, and is also responsible for monitoring security at industrial chemical productions plants around the world.

SM/HAR