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No decision on arming Syrian rebels, says Downing Street No decision on arming Syrian rebels, says David Cameron
(about 2 hours later)
The UK shares the US view that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons but has not yet decided whether to arm the rebels, Downing Street says. 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 White House is to supply direct military aid having concluded that chemical weapons had been used. The prime minister said the US view that the Assad regime had used chemical weapons was "consistent" with his.
Tory MP John Baron urged David Cameron not to rush to follow suit and Labour says efforts should be on peace talks. 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.
Downing St said it was in talks with other countries but no decision had yet been taken on next steps. 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.
Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the US assessment of Syria's use of chemical weapons and said the international community "must be prepared to do more to save lives" and put pressure on the Syrian regime.
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.
Although Mr Cameron has compared arguments against putting more weapons into Syria with "discussions we had about Bosnia and the appalling events that followed", he has stressed that no decision has been made to arm the rebels. 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.
Reservations have been expressed by some Conservative MPs and, reportedly, some of his own cabinet ministers. 'Brutal dictator'
Extremists boosted? 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.
Speaking after the White House announcement, Tory backbencher John Baron said: "Arming the rebels and escalating the violence could be a mistake of historic proportions." "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".
And he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme adding more weapons could escalate the conflict beyond Syria's borders. 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 in May - a move backed by the UK - allowing member states to decide their own policy on sending arms to Syria. 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.
But the prime minister said this week the point had been to send a "clear message about our intentions and our views to President Assad, but we have not made a decision to supply the Syrian opposition with weapons". '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 July. 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.
'Seize moment' 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.
His party says MPs should be given a say on arming the Syrian rebels before any decision has been taken - 81 Conservative MPs also made the same demand in a letter to David 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.
The foreign secretary said that the UK agreed that chemical weapons, including sarin, had been used by the Assad regime and the international community needed a strong "coordinated response".
He added: "We have to be prepared to do more to save lives, to pressure the Assad regime to negotiate seriously, to prevent the growth of extremism and terrorism, and to stop the regime using chemical weapons against its people.
"We will be discussing that response urgently with the United States, France and other countries, including at the G8 this week."
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."