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Saudi Arabia backs call to arm Syria opposition
TUNISIA: Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal supported yesterday the call for arming the rebels fighting the brutal regime of President Bashar Assad. He went further than any of the other Friends of Syria nations meeting in Tunis Friday to increase pressure on Assad to call for a cease-fire, step down and allow humanitarian aid to flow to hard-hit areas.Asked at the start of a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton if he thought arming the Syrian opposition was a good idea, the prince said: I think its an excellent idea. Asked why, he said, Because they have to protect themselves. Clinton warned that Syrias rulers have squandered every chance for peace and, if they do not let aid reach civilians, will have even more blood on their hands. Arab and Western nations called for an immediate end to violence in the country and new sanctions on the Assad regime. In a final declaration, the group called for Syria's government to "immediately cease all violence" to allow humanitarian access and "committed to take steps to apply and enforce restrictions and sanctions on the regime." Posted by: Steve White 2012-02-25 |
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