US to double aid to Syrian rebels following assurances

The United States is to double its aid to rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad after winning a written pledge that a future Syria will be democratic, non-sectarian and give “universal” rights to women.

 Syrian rebels march in a show of strength during a demonstration in Idlib, Syria Photo: AP

The extra $123 million in non-lethal military aid, possibly including armoured vehicles as well as body armour and night-vision goggles, was announced in the early hours of Sunday after the US secretary of state John Kerry and other foreign ministers met opposition leaders. There will also be USD25 million in civilian food aid.

While they spoke, battles were raging as the Assad regime attempted to retake areas around Damascus and near Homs with scores of casualties. Mr Kerry referred to the recent use of ballistic missiles against rebel territory by the regime, as well as suspected, localised use of chemical weapons.

"We are at a critical moment," he said. "The stakes could not be more clear: chemical weapons, the slaughter of people by ballistic missiles and other weapons of huge destruction, the potential of a whole country being torn apart into enclaves, the potential of sectarian violence."

Western allies have been urging the United States to take a "leadership role" on Syria, as the conflict becomes ever more bloody and locked in stalemate. President Barack Obama has been reluctant to be drawn in, and has vetoed proposals by both the state department and the Pentagon to arm the opposition, according to reports from Washington.

The opposition Syrian National Coalition went further yesterday, demanding the West launch drone missile attacks on President Assad's "ballistic missile and chemical weapon launch pads", and establish a no-fly zone, as it did in Libya.