Syria conflict: John Kerry extends US aid to rebels
The escalating carnage in Syria has increased pressure for western intervention
The
US is to step up its support for the Syrian opposition as it fights to
topple President Bashar al-Assad, Secretary of State John Kerry says.
He also promised an additional $60m (£40m) in aid to the opposition to help it deliver basic governance and other services in rebel-controlled areas.
Mr Kerry was speaking at a gathering of the Friends of Syria group in Rome.
The promise of direct, non-lethal aid to the rebels represents a shift in US policy on Syria, correspondents say.
John Kerry: "This funding will allow the opposition... to be able to rebuild"
Mr Kerry said the decision was designed to increase the pressure on President Assad to step down and allow a democratic transition.
"The US decision to take further steps now is the result of the brutality of superior armed force propped up by foreign fighters from Iran and Hezbollah.
"President Assad is out of time and must be out of power," said Mr Kerry, adding that the Syrian leader could not "shoot his way out" of the situation.
The $60m in aid to the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) represents a doubling of US support.
It was intended to help the opposition deliver governance and basic services in rebel-controlled areas, said Mr Kerry.
"As the regime continues to lose ground it will help the opposition extend stability and build representative government and the rule of law," he added.
The signals are clear. Diplomatic patience is running out and the international calculus is slowly shifting.
The debate on arming the Syrian opposition is not going to go away. Non-lethal military aid looks to be the next step for some governments.
The problem is that the arming debate is no simple one. More weapons may even up the contest but equally could increase the bloodshed in the short term.
How could weapons be kept out of the hands of extremist Islamist groups? And is it really true, as some have argued, that supplying weaponry will boost the influence of Western governments among groups that will have a key role in any post-Assad Syria?
One reason the diplomatic clock has been moving so slowly is, in fairness, that while terrible events have been taking place on the ground, there are probably no easy diplomatic answers to be found.
After the meeting, the European
Union announced changes to its arms embargo on Syria, allowing EU states
to provide armoured vehicles, non-lethal military equipment and
technical aid to the rebels, but not weapons.
He initially refused to attend the Rome talks in protest at a lack of international support for the Syrian rebels, but was persuaded after the US and UK indicated there would be specific promises of aid.
Mosque 'captured'
Speaking at the meeting Mr Khatib called on President Assad to make "one wise decision in your life" and stand down "for the future of your country".
Earlier this month he also suggested for the first time that talks with the Assad government might be possible, though that suggestion remains controversial among opposition groups.
The SNC says it plans to set up a government to administer rebel-held areas of Syria, primarily in the north of the country close to the Turkish border.
But a meeting to select the prime minister, scheduled for the weekend, was unexpectedly postponed on Thursday, and no new date has been set.
Meanwhile fighting in Syria continues and the humanitarian situation is worsening.
In the latest fighting, rebel forces have captured the historic Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo, according to an activist group.
The mosque was damaged and its museum caught fire as rebels forced government troops to withdraw, UK-based activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Fighting also raged elsewhere in Aleppo's old city, including near the Palace of Justice, it added.
Aleppo - Syria's second city - has been a key battleground in the conflict.
Mr Kerry highlighted the fate of the city in his address, accusing President Assad of engaging in "ruthless attacks" with Scud missiles against rebel-held areas.
According to UN estimates, more than 70,000 people have been killed in Syria since the revolt against President Assad began nearly two years ago.
Opposition fighters have been constantly outgunned as President Assad's forces deploy tanks, aircraft and missiles against them.
The Syrian rebels say weapons and ammunition are what they need most The World Health Organisation has warned of disease outbreaks and worsening medical services.
Earlier, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Friends of Syria were determined to "ramp up" assistance to the opposition.
"We are entering a new phase in the response of Western and Arab nations to the crisis in Syria," he said.
The Friends of Syria organisation has broad international support, but does not include Syrian allies Russia and China.
On Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks on Syria with his French counterpart Francois Hollande.
He conceded that there were differences in the positions of Russia and France, but said both had agreed that Syria should not be allowed to break apart as a result of the conflict.
Labels: Conflict, EU, Hezbollah, Iran, Revolution, Russia, Syria, United States
posted by Pieface @ Thursday, February 28, 2013
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