Doha Summit Gives Arab States 'Right' to Arm Syria Rebels

by Naharnet Newsdesk 26 March 2013, 19:27

Arab League leaders gathered for an annual summit in Doha on Tuesday gave member states the "right" to offer Syrians all means of self-defense, including arms supplies.

The Arab summit affirms the "right of every state to offer all forms of self-defense, including military, to support the resistance of the Syrian people and the Free Syrian Army," a resolution said.

However, "efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis are a priority," it added.

The Damascus government charges that summit host Qatar and heavyweight neighbor Saudi Arabia have long since been arming the rebels.

Arab leaders confirmed the opposition National Coalition "will take Syria's seat at the Arab League and in its organizations, until elections lead to the formation of a government."

Iraq and Algeria have expressed reservations over seating the opposition. Lebanon has distanced itself.

Syria's seat had been vacant since the suspension of President Bashar Assad's regime in November 2011 over its rejection of a peace plan that would have required him to step down.

Source: Agence France Presse

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