EU to discuss arms embargo in Syria

Calls by the UK and France have led European Union foreign ministers to discuss possibility of easing sanctions against Syria so weapons can be supplied to the rebels.

According to the BBC at a meeting in Brussels, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is expected to argue that the current sanctions regime, which is due to expire at the end of this week, is no longer working.

He wants it amended so arms can be sent to "moderate" forces in the opposition.

However, several EU states are totally opposed to ending the arms embargo.

Earlier, Syria's foreign minister confirmed the government would "in principle" attend an international peace conference which the US and Russia hope will take place in Geneva next month.

Hague has argued that partially lifting the EU arms embargo, so that weapons could be given to rebel groups, would complement, rather than work against, the peace process because it would strengthen the opposition's hand in negotiations with President Assad.

Last week, he told British MPs that weapons would be supplied only "under carefully controlled circumstances" and with clear commitments from the opposition.

The EU embargo, first imposed in May 2011, applies to the rebels as much as the Syrian government.

But in February this year foreign ministers agreed to enable any EU member state to provide non-lethal military equipment "for the protection of civilians" or for the opposition forces, "which the Union accepts as legitimate representatives of the Syrian people".

BBC said that Hague and the French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, will urge other European governments to amend the embargo text to allow weapons to be supplied to the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, or allow more assistance to be sent.

Another possibility is for the existing embargo, which expires at midnight on 31 May, to be extended without amendment for a short period to see if the Geneva conference is successful.