EU lifts arms embargo for Syrian rebels

Syria's opposition reacted cautiously on Tuesday to an EU decision ending an arms embargo on rebels, as fighting spilled over the border into Lebanon, where three soldiers were shot dead overnight.

"Definitely it is a positive step, but we are afraid it could be too little, too late," said Louay Safi, a spokesman for Syria's main opposition National Coalition.

"We need to provide protection for civilians, for the Syrian people. Weapons would be one element but also we would like to have a more serious position taken, a firm decision taken by the European Union," Safi said on the sidelines of an opposition meeting in Istanbul that has been stalled by internal divisions.

The European Union agreed on Monday to lift the embargo, but no member state intends to send any weapons immediately for fear of endangering the prospects of a peace conference dubbed Geneva 2 that Russia and the United States are trying to organize as early as next month.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague announced the EU move, calling the move "a very strong message" to President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Ahead of the decision, the United Kingdom and France pushed for the move, while Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden were reticent about more arms pouring into the conflict.

The final decision is up to each member nation whether to supply arms to the rebels.

To send arms is "against the principles" of Europe, which is a "community of peace", said Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger, a longtime outspoken opponent of the move.

But a French official in Paris stressed that "this is a theoretical lifting of the embargo. In concrete terms, there will be no decision on any deliveries before Aug 1".

The delay is intended to allow peace efforts to proceed, but Syrian rebels on the ground criticized it.

"Why wait until August? Why wait another two months? So that the Syrian people continue to be subjected to genocide?" said Qassem Saadeddine, spokesman for the Free Syrian Army. "We need anti-aircraft rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles."

On the ground, meanwhile, the conflict again spilled over the border into Lebanon.

Unknown gunmen killed three Lebanese soldiers at a Lebanese government checkpoint near the Syrian border on Tuesday, the state-run National News Agency said.

"Three soldiers were killed by armed men while they were in a four-wheel drive vehicle east of Arsal," a security official said, referring to a northeastern town where most residents support the rebels.

The Lebanese are divided over Syria's civil conflict, with Shiite militant group Hezbollah fighting alongside Assad's troops while large numbers of Sunnis back the opposition.

AFP-AP-Reuters

Russia criticizes move

Russia's deputy foreign minister said on Tuesday that the European Union's decision to lift an arms embargo to the Syrian opposition undermines the efforts of both Russia and the US to mediate peace talks in Geneva next month.

Sergei Ryabkov lashed out at the move, calling it "a manifestation of double standards".

"This directly harms the prospects of convening an international conference," he said.

AP-AFP