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No decision on arming Syrian rebels, says David Cameron | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
David Cameron has said Britain has taken "no decision" to arm the Syrian rebels after the US declared it would provide them with military support. | |
The prime minister said the US view that the Assad regime had used chemical weapons was "consistent" with his. | |
He recognised concerns about some in the Syrian opposition but said it was right to engage with those with a "positive" view of the future. | |
Syria says claims it used chemical weapons are "a caravan of lies". | |
The White House said President Obama had made the decision to provide arms to the opposition after concluding the Assad regime was using chemical weapons. It has not yet given details about what military aid might be provided. | The White House said President Obama had made the decision to provide arms to the opposition after concluding the Assad regime was using chemical weapons. It has not yet given details about what military aid might be provided. |
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the change from the White House brought it closer to the position adopted by Britain and France - that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must be forced to the negotiating table. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the change from the White House brought it closer to the position adopted by Britain and France - that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must be forced to the negotiating table. |
Mr Cameron told a news conference on Northern Ireland that samples from inside Syria showing evidence of chemical weapons had been tested by the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down. There was "credible evidence of multiple attacks using chemical weapons", he said. | |
'Brutal dictator' | |
While the UK believed that the scale of use had been ordered by the Assad regime, there was no credible reporting of chemical weapons being used by the opposition, although elements affiliated with al-Qaeda had attempted to acquire some, for "probable use" in Syria, he said. | |
"We have made no decision to arm the opposition but it was right to lift the arms embargo," Mr Cameron said. | |
"We will continue to support, train and assist and work with the opposition. Of course there are concerns about some of the opposition, but my argument is this: If we don't engage with elements of the opposition and encourage those that do have a positive pluralistic and democratic view about the future of Syria, we won't be able to influence the shape of that opposition." | |
He said there was a "brutal dictator who is using chemical weapons under our nose" and it was important to work with "our allies and friends in the region" to do everything possible to end the conflict. | |
"That is what we will do in the days and the weeks ahead," he said. | |
Reservations about arming the rebels have been expressed by some Conservative MPs and, reportedly, some of his own cabinet ministers. | |
Hands of extremists | |
Tory backbencher John Baron said on Friday: "Arming the rebels and escalating the violence could be a mistake of historic proportions." | |
He said there was no way of knowing that weapons would not fall "into the hands of extremists within the Syrian opposition forces that have committed atrocities". | He said there was no way of knowing that weapons would not fall "into the hands of extremists within the Syrian opposition forces that have committed atrocities". |
Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said there remained strong arguments against arming the rebels: "How would you prevent arms falling into the hands of jihadists, if not now then in the future? What evidence is there that Assad will change his policies so long as he has the powerful support of Russia and the arms supplies that go with it?" | |
The EU agreed to end an arms embargo on Syria last month - a move backed by the UK - allowing member states to decide their own policy on sending arms to Syria. But Mr Cameron has said the point was to send a message to President Assad and no decision had been made to do so. | |
'Only credible plan' | |
Labour leader Ed Miliband has argued that the government has been putting all its efforts into lifting the EU arms embargo - not on securing the Geneva II peace talks, which have already been postponed until at least next month. | |
His party says MPs should be given a say on arming the Syrian rebels before any decision has been taken, and 81 Conservative MPs made the same demand in a letter to Mr Cameron this month. | |
For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said the Geneva II talks were the only credible plan to secure a peace settlement. | |
"This weekend Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the G8 meeting here in the United Kingdom. This moment must be grasped. | "This weekend Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the G8 meeting here in the United Kingdom. This moment must be grasped. |
"It is vital that the opportunity of this G8 meeting is seized, and every effort is made by the US President, the UK Prime Minister and others to engage the Russians directly and enlist their support in bringing all sides of the Syrian conflict to the negotiating table." | "It is vital that the opportunity of this G8 meeting is seized, and every effort is made by the US President, the UK Prime Minister and others to engage the Russians directly and enlist their support in bringing all sides of the Syrian conflict to the negotiating table." |