EU foreign ministers seek solution on Syria arms

The European Union nations remain divided on Monday whether to ease sanctions against Syria to allow for weapons shipments to rebels fighting the regime of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad.

Britain is the most outspoken proponent of relaxing the arms embargo but faces opposition from some members that feel more weapons would only increase the killings, Dutch Minister Frans Timmermans said,

“As we begin our meeting there are still different views,” Timmermans said, heading into of the meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers.

Assad has been using extensive firepower against lightly armed rebel factions. More than 70,000 people have died since the uprising against Assad’s regime erupted in March 2011. Meanwhile, both sides have agreed in principle to enter direct talks in Geneva next month.

Several nations say that arming the opposition would create a level playing field that would force Assad into a negotiated settlement.

“It is important to show we are prepared to amend our arms embargo so that the Assad regime gets a clear signal that it has to negotiate seriously,” said British Foreign Secretary William Hague.