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World

Syria's main opposition bloc urges EU to quickly send arms to rebels, help defeat Assad regime

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    This image from amateur video obtained by a group which calls itself Ugarit News, which is consistent with AP reporting, shows a rocket fired by Syrian rebels in Qusair, Syria, Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Europe's decision to allow member states to arm Syrian rebels and Russia's renewed pledge to send advanced missiles to the Syria regime could spur an arms race in an already brutal civil war and increasingly turn it into a East-West proxy fight. Britain promises not to transfer any arms before diplomacy is given a chance in Syria peace talks expected next month, while a top rebel commander says he needs Western anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles now to prevent more regime gains on the battlefield. (AP Photo/Ugarit News via AP video) (The Associated Press)

  • 257264df-Mideast Syria
    Image 2 of 3

    This image from amateur video obtained by a group which calls itself Ugarit News, which is consistent with AP reporting, shows rebel fighters in Daraa, Syria, Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Europe's decision to allow member states to arm Syrian rebels and Russia's renewed pledge to send advanced missiles to the Syria regime could spur an arms race in an already brutal civil war and increasingly turn it into a East-West proxy fight. Britain promises not to transfer any arms before diplomacy is given a chance in Syria peace talks expected next month, while a top rebel commander says he needs Western anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles now to prevent more regime gains on the battlefield. (AP Photo/Ugarit News via AP video) (The Associated Press)

  • fab452d5-APTOPIX Mideast Syria
    Image 3 of 3

    This image from amateur video obtained by a group which calls itself Ugarit News, which is consistent with AP reporting, shows a rebel fighter firing a mortar with the help of a drawstring in Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Europe's decision to allow member states to arm Syrian rebels and Russia's renewed pledge to send advanced missiles to the Syria regime could spur an arms race in an already brutal civil war and increasingly turn it into a East-West proxy fight. Britain promises not to transfer any arms before diplomacy is given a chance in Syria peace talks expected next month, while a top rebel commander says he needs Western anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles now to prevent more regime gains on the battlefield. (AP Photo/Ugarit News via AP video) (The Associated Press)

BEIRUT – Syria's main opposition bloc is urging the European Union to quickly supply rebels fighting President Bashar Assad's forces with sophisticated weapons and help them overthrow his regime.

Wednesday's call follows EU's decision this week to let the Syrian arms embargo expire, paving the way for individual countries in the 27-member union to send weapons to Assad's outgunned opponents.

But the decision may have little impact on Syria's 2-year-old conflict, since no single European country is expected to send lethal weapons to the rebels in the coming weeks.

A Syrian National Coalition statement urged the EU to promptly send "specialized weaponry to repel the fierce attacks waged against unarmed civilians" by Assad's regime and its Hezbollah and Iranian allies.

More than 70,000 people have been killed in the Syrian civil war.