This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-17558417
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
UK doubles aid to Syria opposition groups | UK doubles aid to Syria opposition groups |
(about 2 hours later) | |
By James Robbins Diplomatic correspondent | By James Robbins Diplomatic correspondent |
The UK is to double its non-military aid to opponents of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, Foreign Secretary William Hague has said. | The UK is to double its non-military aid to opponents of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, Foreign Secretary William Hague has said. |
He said the extra £500,000 will help groups both inside and outside Syria. | He said the extra £500,000 will help groups both inside and outside Syria. |
Mr Hague used his annual Mansion House speech in the City of London to urge President Assad to accept he has no hope of political survival. | Mr Hague used his annual Mansion House speech in the City of London to urge President Assad to accept he has no hope of political survival. |
The United Nations says more than 9,000 people have been killed during a year-long Syrian revolt. | The United Nations says more than 9,000 people have been killed during a year-long Syrian revolt. |
The foreign secretary is working to boost Syria's opposition at a moment when new diplomacy offers hope - however uncertain - that President Assad may be pushed into change. | The foreign secretary is working to boost Syria's opposition at a moment when new diplomacy offers hope - however uncertain - that President Assad may be pushed into change. |
Mr Hague told his audience, including dozens of foreign ambassadors in London, that the UK will give opposition groups extra help worth £500,000. | Mr Hague told his audience, including dozens of foreign ambassadors in London, that the UK will give opposition groups extra help worth £500,000. |
It will include more training for activists and citizen journalists to help them get their stories out of Syria, and possibly secure phones to make the co-ordination of protest safer. | It will include more training for activists and citizen journalists to help them get their stories out of Syria, and possibly secure phones to make the co-ordination of protest safer. |
Civil society groups will also be given more assistance gathering evidence of atrocities for possible future trials. | Civil society groups will also be given more assistance gathering evidence of atrocities for possible future trials. |
Mr Hague warned the regime its reliance on violence was not only morally indefensible, it was futile. | Mr Hague warned the regime its reliance on violence was not only morally indefensible, it was futile. |
'Economic disarray' | 'Economic disarray' |
He said: "President Assad and his allies may look at the rubble of Homs, the abandoned streets of Idlib and Syria's overflowing prisons and they may entertain hopes of political survival. | He said: "President Assad and his allies may look at the rubble of Homs, the abandoned streets of Idlib and Syria's overflowing prisons and they may entertain hopes of political survival. |
"But they cannot avoid ever greater numbers of Syrians wanting a better future, and rejecting the bloodshed, insecurity and economic disarray their leaders have brought upon them." | "But they cannot avoid ever greater numbers of Syrians wanting a better future, and rejecting the bloodshed, insecurity and economic disarray their leaders have brought upon them." |
Mr Hague said he expected the Friends of Syria meeting in Istanbul on Sunday to adopt new measures to increase pressure on the regime and boost Kofi Annan's diplomatic mission. | |
The foreign secretary did acknowledge President Assad's apparent willingness to accept Mr Annan's UN plan, but he said the regime needed to convince a sceptical world and a wounded Syrian people. | |
On Thursday, Arab states meeting in Baghdad called for the immediate implementation of the plan, which would see a UN-monitored end to fighting, troops pulled out of opposition areas and access for humanitarian services. | |
At the same meeting, Iraq's PM Nouri al-Maliki warned that arming either side in Syria would lead to a "proxy war". | |
Syria's opposition leaders are so far refusing to contemplate any negotiations which could leave President Assad in power and he is warning that his participation in a UN peace plan may depend on foreign governments ending all support for his opponents, whom he calls terrorists. | Syria's opposition leaders are so far refusing to contemplate any negotiations which could leave President Assad in power and he is warning that his participation in a UN peace plan may depend on foreign governments ending all support for his opponents, whom he calls terrorists. |
Previous version
1
Next version