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| Syria opposition to receive more assistance from Britain | Syria opposition to receive more assistance from Britain |
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| Britain is to step up assistance to Syria's opposition, the foreign secretary, William Hague, has said on Wednesday , providing armoured vehicles, body armour and other non-lethal equipment to the "moderate, democratic forces" battling President Bashar al-Assad. | Britain is to step up assistance to Syria's opposition, the foreign secretary, William Hague, has said on Wednesday , providing armoured vehicles, body armour and other non-lethal equipment to the "moderate, democratic forces" battling President Bashar al-Assad. |
| In a statement to the House of Commons, Hague said that international efforts to end the bloody two-year conflict in Syria had been an "abject failure". He said the European Union had to "move further" if there was no political solution. | In a statement to the House of Commons, Hague said that international efforts to end the bloody two-year conflict in Syria had been an "abject failure". He said the European Union had to "move further" if there was no political solution. |
| But he ruled out providing arms to the rebels – a key demand of the Syrian opposition – at least for now. He also said that there was no prospect of western military intervention in Syria. | But he ruled out providing arms to the rebels – a key demand of the Syrian opposition – at least for now. He also said that there was no prospect of western military intervention in Syria. |
| Hague's comments came as the number of refugees fleeing the fighting passed 1 million. The UN high commissioner for refugees, António Guterres, said the numbers had risen sharply since the beginning of the year as violence gripped the country. | Hague's comments came as the number of refugees fleeing the fighting passed 1 million. The UN high commissioner for refugees, António Guterres, said the numbers had risen sharply since the beginning of the year as violence gripped the country. |
| "Syria is spiralling towards full-scale disaster," Guterres said, warning that the ability of neighbouring countries to absorb the new arrivals was "dangerously stretched". Half of the refugees were children, he said, many traumatised. | "Syria is spiralling towards full-scale disaster," Guterres said, warning that the ability of neighbouring countries to absorb the new arrivals was "dangerously stretched". Half of the refugees were children, he said, many traumatised. |
| Britain will now provide non-lethal military equipment to the opposition Syrian National Coalition. This will include electricity repair, water purification equipment and testing equipment for chemical weapons. The assistance is designed to protect civilians and was a "necessary, proportionate and lawful response to the situation of extreme humanitarian suffering," Hague said. | Britain will now provide non-lethal military equipment to the opposition Syrian National Coalition. This will include electricity repair, water purification equipment and testing equipment for chemical weapons. The assistance is designed to protect civilians and was a "necessary, proportionate and lawful response to the situation of extreme humanitarian suffering," Hague said. |
| The EU arms embargo to Syria remains in force. But Hague said the EU would re-examine it in May, and hinted that he would push for it to be lifted if the bloodshed continued. "We must be prepared to do more in a situation of such slaughter and suffering. A more static policy would not measure up to the gravity of the situation," Hague told MPs. | The EU arms embargo to Syria remains in force. But Hague said the EU would re-examine it in May, and hinted that he would push for it to be lifted if the bloodshed continued. "We must be prepared to do more in a situation of such slaughter and suffering. A more static policy would not measure up to the gravity of the situation," Hague told MPs. |
| Last week, the National Coalition's London representative said he expected some European countries to break with Washington and to start supplying arms to the Syrian rebels in the next few months. Speaking to the European parliament in Brussels on Wednesday, Syria's top rebel commander, Salim Idris, said anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles were needed to protect the civilian population. "When we don't have enough weapons ... the regime still considers itself powerful, and it continues killing," he said. | Last week, the National Coalition's London representative said he expected some European countries to break with Washington and to start supplying arms to the Syrian rebels in the next few months. Speaking to the European parliament in Brussels on Wednesday, Syria's top rebel commander, Salim Idris, said anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles were needed to protect the civilian population. "When we don't have enough weapons ... the regime still considers itself powerful, and it continues killing," he said. |
| There has already been a noticeable relaxation in recent days of strict restrictions the US and Turkey had imposed on arms flows over the Turkish border. Video footage on Wednesday showed rebels shooting down a helicopter near Aleppo with an FN-6 shoulder-launched missile. | There has already been a noticeable relaxation in recent days of strict restrictions the US and Turkey had imposed on arms flows over the Turkish border. Video footage on Wednesday showed rebels shooting down a helicopter near Aleppo with an FN-6 shoulder-launched missile. |
| Anti-Assad fighters have repeatedly complained they cannot protect their communities from attacks by a regime armed with fighter jets, tanks and Scud ballistic missiles. Since the conflict started, Russia and Iran have supplied Damascus with large amounts of military equipment including attack helicopters and anti-aircraft defences. Saudia Arabia and Qatar have sent some supplies to the rebels, funnelling most to radical Sunni groups. | Anti-Assad fighters have repeatedly complained they cannot protect their communities from attacks by a regime armed with fighter jets, tanks and Scud ballistic missiles. Since the conflict started, Russia and Iran have supplied Damascus with large amounts of military equipment including attack helicopters and anti-aircraft defences. Saudia Arabia and Qatar have sent some supplies to the rebels, funnelling most to radical Sunni groups. |
| The UK's pledge to spend $20m (£13.2m) follows a similar announcement from the US, which has promised $60m for non-lethal equipment. The British money will be spent on armoured four-wheel-drive vehicles to allow opposition figures to move around more freely, as well as personal protection including body armour. The UK will train armed opposition groups in international law and human rights standards. | The UK's pledge to spend $20m (£13.2m) follows a similar announcement from the US, which has promised $60m for non-lethal equipment. The British money will be spent on armoured four-wheel-drive vehicles to allow opposition figures to move around more freely, as well as personal protection including body armour. The UK will train armed opposition groups in international law and human rights standards. |
| Hague said there was little possibility of a political solution in Syria. He said that the international community had made "countless" unsuccessful attempts to negotiate with al-Assad, who enjoyed strong support from Moscow. What happens in Syria was "vital to our national interest", he told the House of Commons, citing the growth of extremism, which has made Syria the "top destination for jihadists anywhere in the word". He also pointed out that the crisis was undermining regional security, adding that there was growing concern Assad might use his stockpile of chemical weapons. | Hague said there was little possibility of a political solution in Syria. He said that the international community had made "countless" unsuccessful attempts to negotiate with al-Assad, who enjoyed strong support from Moscow. What happens in Syria was "vital to our national interest", he told the House of Commons, citing the growth of extremism, which has made Syria the "top destination for jihadists anywhere in the word". He also pointed out that the crisis was undermining regional security, adding that there was growing concern Assad might use his stockpile of chemical weapons. |
| The foreign secretary rejected a suggestion by one MP that Britain should express its displeasure with the Kremlin by boycotting the 2018 World Cup, to be hosted in Russia. "I'm not a great fan of sporting sanctions," he said. | The foreign secretary rejected a suggestion by one MP that Britain should express its displeasure with the Kremlin by boycotting the 2018 World Cup, to be hosted in Russia. "I'm not a great fan of sporting sanctions," he said. |
| On the ground, there was further carnage. Residents and activists reported the government had shelled rebels positions in eastern Damascus, killing two children in the Jobar neighbourhood. | On the ground, there was further carnage. Residents and activists reported the government had shelled rebels positions in eastern Damascus, killing two children in the Jobar neighbourhood. |
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