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Cameron and Putin to discuss Syria conflict at No 10 Syria: Consult Commons on arms sales Miliband urges PM
(about 5 hours later)
The UK prime minister is to hold talks about Syria with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the G8 summit. Ed Miliband has urged David Cameron to guarantee a Commons vote before any arms are sent to the Syrian opposition.
David Cameron told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions he would be meeting Mr Putin in No 10 on Sunday. Raising the issue at Prime Minister's Questions, the Labour leader said a "substantive" vote was needed, with Parliament being recalled if necessary.
"We all want... a peace conference, a peace process and a move towards a transitional government," he said. In response, Mr Cameron said MPs would "have a say". No 10 later said a vote would be held "when the time is right".
Labour leader Ed Miliband asked for an assurance there would be a vote before arms were given to rebels. Mr Cameron said the Commons would "have a say". The prime minister also said he would hold talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Syria ahead of the G8 summit.
The UK and France have led calls for more support for the official opposition in Syria, but MPs from all parties have warned of the dangers of escalating a conflict that has already claimed the lives of 80,000, and of strengthening extremist elements.The UK and France have led calls for more support for the official opposition in Syria, but MPs from all parties have warned of the dangers of escalating a conflict that has already claimed the lives of 80,000, and of strengthening extremist elements.
Russia, is an ally of, and has sold arms to President Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government, and said last week it was "disappointed" by the EU ending its embargo on arms sales to the opposition.
Mr Cameron and Mr Putin held talks last month in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in Russia. Mr Cameron said at the time that although the two men disagreed on strategy, they agreed on the need to end the violence, prevent the growth of extremism and stop Syria "fragmenting".
Mr Putin said the two had a "common interest" in stabilising the country.
'Clear message''Clear message'
Speaking in the Commons, the prime minister said the UK and Russia's differences over the crisis were well known and Sunday's meeting was intended to "crank up the pressure" on all sides in the conflict. More than 80 Tory MPs have signed a letter urging the government to consult Parliament before any decision is taken.
He defended the UK's policy on Syria and the government's decision to push for the lifting of the EU's embargo. Mr Miliband said the prime minister had put more energy into negotiations over lifting the EU arms embargo, which authorises the UK and other nations to supply arms if they so choose, than potential peace talks.
"The point about lifting the arms embargo is to send a very clear message about our intentions and about our views to President Assad," he said. Citing the debate held last year on UK military support for the Libyan opposition, Mr Cameron said he believed in letting the Commons have a say on "all of these issues" and "it would be right in the future for that to happen".
"But we have not made a decision to supply the Syrian opposition with weapons. As I said, we are giving them assistance, we are giving them advice and we are giving them technical help. Critics say British planes were already being scrambled when the Commons backed UK intervention in the Libyan uprising.
"We have systems in place to make sure that sort of non-lethal equipment, like transport and things like that, doesn't get in to the wrong hands. Of course we do." Mr Cameron added: "The point about lifting the arms embargo is to send a very clear message about our intentions and about our views to President Assad."
In response, Mr Miliband said the prime minister had put more energy into negotiations over the embargo than potential peace talks, due to take place in Geneva but for which no date has yet been agreed. "But we have not made a decision to supply the Syrian opposition with weapons. As I said, we are giving them assistance, we are giving them advice and we are giving them technical help."
He also pressed Mr Cameron on what safeguards would be in place in the event of arms sales to the opposition. The prime minister also said he would be meeting Mr Putin in No 10 on Sunday, ahead of the G8 summit in Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is in Washington on Wednesday for talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss the West's response to the continued bloodshed, including whether to begin supplying the rebels with weapons. Russia is an ally of, and has sold arms to President Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government, and said last week it was "disappointed" by the EU ending its embargo on arms sales to the opposition.
'Pressure applied'
Mr Cameron and Mr Putin held talks last month in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in Russia.
At the time, Mr Cameron said that although the two men disagreed on strategy, they agreed on the need to end the violence, prevent the growth of extremism and stop Syria "fragmenting".
Sunday's meeting was intended to "crank up the pressure" on all sides in the conflict, the prime minister said.
"We all want... a peace conference, a peace process and a move towards a transitional government," he said, while admitting there were differences on how to get there.
Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague is in Washington on Wednesday for talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss the West's response to the continued bloodshed, including whether to begin supplying arms to the rebels.
More than 80,000 people have been killed and 1.6 million have fled to neighbouring countries since the uprising against President Assad began in March 2011, according to the UN.More than 80,000 people have been killed and 1.6 million have fled to neighbouring countries since the uprising against President Assad began in March 2011, according to the UN.