UK undecided on arming Syria terrorists

London says it does not yet know whether it will arm Syrian rebels and a decision will be delayed until after the planned Geneva talks on Syria.

British Foreign Minister William Hague said in an interview with German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that London believes efforts to bring representatives of the Syrian government and foreign-backed armed groups round the negotiating table should continue, though he said he is not “overly optimistic”.

“A decision on whether to deliver lethal weapons will depend on how those negotiations go and other countries’ attitudes,” he said.

“We need a political solution as soon as possible,” he added.

Russia and the US said last month that they want a conference on Syria to be held in Geneva but no date is yet set for the event.

Hague’s remarks come after the EU did not extend an arms embargo on Syria last month, allowing governments, such as London and Paris, to consider direct arming of Syrian terrorists following months of reported covert arms deliveries to Syrian militants.