A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: EU lifts arms embargo on Syrian rebels - Europe - Al Jazeera English

[Reuters]

A failure by European Union governments to agree on extending an arms embargo on Syria effectively ends the EU's ban on supplying arms to Syrian rebels, British Foreign Secretary William Hague has said.

EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday to bridge their differences over the issue, with Britain and France pushing to allow European governments to deliver arms. Austria and several other EU members oppose such moves.

"We have brought to an end the arms embargo on the Syrian opposition," Hague said after the inconclusive talks, adding that Britain had no immediate plans to send arms to Syria.

"This was the outcome that the United Kingdom wanted. It was a difficult decision for some countries, but it was necessary and right to reinforce international efforts to reach a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Syria," Hague said in a statement................

FULL ARTICLE: EU lifts arms embargo on Syrian rebels - Europe - Al Jazeera English