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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Syria conflict: US and UK pledge to bolster opposition | Syria conflict: US and UK pledge to bolster opposition |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US and the UK say they will work to strengthen the moderate opposition in Syria and create a transitional body to replace President Bashar al-Assad. | The US and the UK say they will work to strengthen the moderate opposition in Syria and create a transitional body to replace President Bashar al-Assad. |
| US President Barack Obama said such a body would be the goal of a meeting in Geneva in "the coming weeks". | |
| The US recently won Russian support for the conference. | The US recently won Russian support for the conference. |
| British Prime Minister David Cameron, in Washington for talks, said there was an "urgent window of opportunity before the worst fears are realised" in Syria. | British Prime Minister David Cameron, in Washington for talks, said there was an "urgent window of opportunity before the worst fears are realised" in Syria. |
| Since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's rule began more than two years ago, at least 70,000 people are believed to have been killed and more than 1.2 million are living outside Syria as refugees. | Since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's rule began more than two years ago, at least 70,000 people are believed to have been killed and more than 1.2 million are living outside Syria as refugees. |
| The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at the weekend that more than 80,000 people had died, a figure cited by Mr Cameron on Monday. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at the weekend that more than 80,000 people had died, a figure cited by Mr Cameron on Monday. |
| 'Onslaught' | 'Onslaught' |
| Mr Cameron arrived in the US from Russia, where he had discussed the Syrian crisis with President Vladimir Putin. | Mr Cameron arrived in the US from Russia, where he had discussed the Syrian crisis with President Vladimir Putin. |
| On Tuesday, in a press conference following talks with Mr Obama, he said he welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin's agreement to join an effort to achieve a political solution to the Syrian crisis. | On Tuesday, in a press conference following talks with Mr Obama, he said he welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin's agreement to join an effort to achieve a political solution to the Syrian crisis. |
| "There's no more urgent international task than this. We need to get Syrians to the table to agree a transitional government that can win the consent of all of the Syrian people," he said. | "There's no more urgent international task than this. We need to get Syrians to the table to agree a transitional government that can win the consent of all of the Syrian people," he said. |
| But he added: "There will be no political progress unless the opposition is able to withstand the onslaught and put pressure on Assad so he knows there is no military victory." | But he added: "There will be no political progress unless the opposition is able to withstand the onslaught and put pressure on Assad so he knows there is no military victory." |
| Mr Cameron said he had not made a decision to arm the Syrian opposition, but cited the UK's push for further flexibility in the EU's arms embargo on Syria. | Mr Cameron said he had not made a decision to arm the Syrian opposition, but cited the UK's push for further flexibility in the EU's arms embargo on Syria. |
| He also referred to an earlier pledge to double non-lethal support to the Syrian opposition over the coming year, including armoured vehicles, body armour and generators. | He also referred to an earlier pledge to double non-lethal support to the Syrian opposition over the coming year, including armoured vehicles, body armour and generators. |
| "I do believe that there is more we can do alongside technical advice, assistance, help, in order to shape them, in order to work with them," Mr Cameron said. | "I do believe that there is more we can do alongside technical advice, assistance, help, in order to shape them, in order to work with them," Mr Cameron said. |
| Chemical weapons | Chemical weapons |
| Mr Obama said the US would work to increase pressure on Mr Assad, provide humanitarian aid, support the moderate opposition and prepare Syria for a democratic transition. | Mr Obama said the US would work to increase pressure on Mr Assad, provide humanitarian aid, support the moderate opposition and prepare Syria for a democratic transition. |
| "Meanwhile, we'll continue to work to establish the facts around the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and those facts will help guide our next steps," he added. | "Meanwhile, we'll continue to work to establish the facts around the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and those facts will help guide our next steps," he added. |
| Both the UK and the US have spoken of growing evidence that the Syrian government have used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin. | Both the UK and the US have spoken of growing evidence that the Syrian government have used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin. |
| Mr Obama had previously warned that such a development was a "red line" for possible intervention, | Mr Obama had previously warned that such a development was a "red line" for possible intervention, |
| The BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell says the US and Europe are "slowly inching towards arming the rebels" - a complicated move, because there are many different rebel groups, some of which are hostile to the West. | The BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell says the US and Europe are "slowly inching towards arming the rebels" - a complicated move, because there are many different rebel groups, some of which are hostile to the West. |
| Mr Putin has been portrayed as one of the main obstacles preventing Western countries taking a stronger line on Syria. | Mr Putin has been portrayed as one of the main obstacles preventing Western countries taking a stronger line on Syria. |
| Last week, however, the US claimed a breakthrough when the Russian leader agreed to the international peace conference on Syria, which would involve representatives of both the government and the opposition. | Last week, however, the US claimed a breakthrough when the Russian leader agreed to the international peace conference on Syria, which would involve representatives of both the government and the opposition. |
| But details of who would attend this conference are vague, and no date has been set. | But details of who would attend this conference are vague, and no date has been set. |