EU foreign ministers divided on shipping arms to Syrian rebels; most say would worsen violence

DUBLIN – European Union foreign ministers are divided on whether to start shipping weapons to rebels in Syria with most insisting that the move would only make matters worse.

Britain and France, isolated in their efforts to win EU approval for boosting the Syrian opposition's firepower, say they hope to edge European colleagues closer to their position during two days of talks at Dublin Castle that started Friday.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle says he accepts the "good reasons" behind the Anglo-French position, but that Germany remains reluctant to put more weapons into the hands of disparate forces fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad from power.

Several other foreign ministers back Westerwelle's caution including Ireland, the current EU president.