The White House says President Barack Obama is considering providing Syrian rebels with “non-lethal” aid in their year-long uprising against autocratic leader Bashar al-Assad.
Mr. Obama discussed ways of helping the Syrian rebels with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Sunday in Seoul, where they will attend a nuclear security summit.
The two leaders agreed to raise the issue of non-lethal aid at a “Friends of Syria” meeting in Istanbul April 1. Opposition sources said Turkey and the Arab League are pressing the Syrian opposition to unite beforehand, to agree on a set of shared principles and to unify around the Syrian National Council.
After meeting Mr. Obama in Seoul, Mr. Erdogan said Turkey and its partners “cannot remain a spectator” to Syria's conflict, and must do something “in the framework of international law.” Mr. Obama said he and Mr. Erdogan also agreed that Syria must begin a transition to a legitimate government.
The United States, Turkey and their allies have been reluctant to arm the loosely organized Syrian rebels trying to oust President Assad, fearing that an escalation of the conflict will worsen a humanitarian crisis in parts of the country.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday said a Syria peace plan drafted by international envoy Kofi Annan “may be the last chance” for the country to avoid a “protracted bloody civil war.” Mr. Medvedev discussed the plan with Mr. Annan in Moscow and promised to assist him “at any level.”
The U.N.-Arab League envoy's proposal calls on the Assad government and the rebels to agree to a cease-fire and begin a dialogue on resolving the conflict peacefully. After meeting the Russian president, Mr. Annan said the Assad government “has an opportunity” to work with him to end the fighting, allow humanitarian access to affected civilians and embark on a political process.
Syrian rights activists said pro-Assad troops killed at least 27 people, including 15 civilians, in continued attacks on opposition hubs throughout the country Sunday. They said security forces shelled the central city of Homs and attacked rebels in the southern province of Daraa and near the capital, Damascus.
U.S.-based Human Rights Watch accused the Syrian military of using civilians – including children and the elderly – as human shields in battles with the rebels. In a report released Sunday, the group said it had witness testimony of Syrian troops forcing civilians to march in front of government tanks in towns and villages in the northern province of Idlib.
The United Nations says at least 8,000 people have been killed in the Assad government's crackdown on the revolt, which began one year ago with peaceful protests, then became increasingly militarized.
