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Syria conflict: EU considers amending arms embargo Syria conflict: EU considers amending arms embargo
(35 minutes later)
EU foreign ministers are discussing UK and French calls to ease sanctions so Syria rebels can be supplied with arms.EU foreign ministers are discussing UK and French calls to ease sanctions so Syria rebels can be supplied with arms.
France and the UK argue that the move would push Damascus towards a political solution.France and the UK argue that the move would push Damascus towards a political solution.
However, several EU states are totally opposed to ending the arms embargo, which expires on 31 May.However, several EU states are totally opposed to ending the arms embargo, which expires on 31 May.
Meanwhile French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said there were "growing suspicions" of "localised" chemical weapons use in Syria.Meanwhile French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said there were "growing suspicions" of "localised" chemical weapons use in Syria.
Mr Fabius said the evidence needed "very detailed verification".Mr Fabius said the evidence needed "very detailed verification".
"We are consulting with our partners to examine what specific consequences to draw," he added."We are consulting with our partners to examine what specific consequences to draw," he added.
He was speaking after the French newspaper Le Monde on Monday reported that rebel forces in the Damascus suburb of Jobar had been targeted by canisters of toxic gas since last month.He was speaking after the French newspaper Le Monde on Monday reported that rebel forces in the Damascus suburb of Jobar had been targeted by canisters of toxic gas since last month.
A photographer working for the paper "suffered blurred vision and respiratory difficulties for four days", it said.A photographer working for the paper "suffered blurred vision and respiratory difficulties for four days", it said.
There has been increasing pressure on the international community to act since allegations emerged of chemical weapons being used in the conflict. Syria has denied using chemical weapons.There has been increasing pressure on the international community to act since allegations emerged of chemical weapons being used in the conflict. Syria has denied using chemical weapons.
The meeting in Brussels comes as the US, France and Russia push for Syria's opposition to join President Bashar al-Assad's government at an international peace conference in Geneva next month. The meeting in Brussels comes as the US, France and Russia push for Syria's opposition to join President Bashar al-Assad's government at an international peace conference next month.
Syria's foreign minister confirmed on Sunday that the government would "in principle" attend the summit.Syria's foreign minister confirmed on Sunday that the government would "in principle" attend the summit.
Members of the main opposition coalition are currently meeting in the Turkish city of Istanbul to decide whether to attend the conference.Members of the main opposition coalition are currently meeting in the Turkish city of Istanbul to decide whether to attend the conference.
They have been given an unofficial deadline of this evening, the BBC's Jim Muir reports, before US Secretary of State John Kerry is due to have talks in Paris with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.They have been given an unofficial deadline of this evening, the BBC's Jim Muir reports, before US Secretary of State John Kerry is due to have talks in Paris with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said that Britain fully backed the Geneva conference as "in the end there is only a political and diplomatically supported solution". UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said that Britain fully backed the peace conference as "in the end there is only a political and diplomatically supported solution".
But he said amending the EU arms embargo was "part of supporting the diplomatic work". President Assad's government needed "a clear signal that it has to negotiate seriously", he said.But he said amending the EU arms embargo was "part of supporting the diplomatic work". President Assad's government needed "a clear signal that it has to negotiate seriously", he said.
'Peace community''Peace community'
Hours into the EU meeting, foreign ministers were still locked in discussions on the arms embargo, says the BBC's Matthew Price in Brussels.Hours into the EU meeting, foreign ministers were still locked in discussions on the arms embargo, says the BBC's Matthew Price in Brussels.
A source told the BBC that a majority of countries preferred not to change the embargo, and the ministers were seeking a compromise. Mr Fabius's remarks about chemical weapons do not appear to have persuaded others of the need to ease the embargo, our correspondent says.
One option could involve allowing some military equipment to be sent to Syria, with strict conditions attached, our correspondent adds. Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said that a majority of countries were backing his position in favour of an extension of the embargo.
There are fears that anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons given to rebel fighters considered "moderate" might end up in the hands of jihadist militants, including those from the al-Nusra Front, which has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda. It seems the most likely outcome is a compromise which would involve extending it without amendment for a short period to see if the peace conference is successful.
There are fears that if the embargo is eased anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons given to rebel fighters considered "moderate" might end up in the hands of jihadist militants, including those from the al-Nusra Front, which has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda.
But last week Mr Hague told British MPs that weapons would be supplied only "under carefully controlled circumstances" and with clear commitments from the opposition.But last week Mr Hague 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.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".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".
If foreign ministers fail to agree to an easing of the arms embargo, which expires at midnight on 31 May, a more likely deal would involve extending it without amendment for a short period to see if the Geneva conference is successful.
Unanimity is needed, and Mr Hague warned that if a deal could not be agreed, each member state would have to ensure it had its own sanctions.Unanimity is needed, and Mr Hague warned that if a deal could not be agreed, each member state would have to ensure it had its own sanctions.
Oxfam has warned of "devastating consequences" if the embargo ends.Oxfam has warned of "devastating consequences" if the embargo ends.
"There are no easy answers when trying to stop the bloodshed in Syria, but sending more arms and ammunition clearly isn't one of them," the aid agency's head of arms control, Anna Macdonald, said in a statement on Thursday."There are no easy answers when trying to stop the bloodshed in Syria, but sending more arms and ammunition clearly isn't one of them," the aid agency's head of arms control, Anna Macdonald, said in a statement on Thursday.
Fighting in Syria continued on Monday around the strategic town of Qusair, a few miles from the Lebanese border.Fighting in Syria continued on Monday around the strategic town of Qusair, a few miles from the Lebanese border.
A prominent Syrian female TV journalist, Yara Abbas, was killed just outside the town, pro-government Ikhbariya TV said, in clashes that have threatened to spill over into Lebanon.A prominent Syrian female TV journalist, Yara Abbas, was killed just outside the town, pro-government Ikhbariya TV said, in clashes that have threatened to spill over into Lebanon.
Dozens of militants from the Lebanese Shia Hezbollah movement have been killed in Qusair in the past week. The latest violence has prompted UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay to issue a dire warning.Dozens of militants from the Lebanese Shia Hezbollah movement have been killed in Qusair in the past week. The latest violence has prompted UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay to issue a dire warning.
"A humanitarian, political and social catastrophe is already upon us and what awaits us is truly a nightmare," she told the start of a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva."A humanitarian, political and social catastrophe is already upon us and what awaits us is truly a nightmare," she told the start of a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.