Syria's Opposition Urges International Community to Arm Rebels
Syria's chair is seen empty at the preparatory meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers in Kuwait City, March 23, 2014.
Syria's opposition has urged the international community to provide heavy weapons to rebels fighting to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Syrian Opposition National Coalition chief Ahmed Jarba issued the appeal Tuesday in Kuwait City at the annual summit of the 22-member Arab League.
Jarba also said the decision to keep Syria's seat vacant at the summit instead of turn it over to the opposition sends a message to Mr. Assad that he can kill while the seat waits for him.
Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz urged supporters of Syrian opposition fighters to provide more weapons to aid in the rebel effort. Saudi Arabia is a key backer of the rebels.
U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi called for an end to the flow of weapons to all combatants in the war. He insisted on the need for a political solution to end the conflict.
Syria's seat had been vacant since the Arab League suspended its membership in 2011. Most Arab League members have called for President Assad to step down.
On Monday, Brahimi said peace talks meant to end to the fighting in Syria will not continue anytime soon. He said the conditions for a new round of talks have not been met. Syria's government and the opposition to President Assad have held two rounds of negotiations that ended in late January, but made little progress.
Images from Syria
1/11Freed El Mundo Middle East correspondent Javier Espinosa (right) and freelance photographer Ricardo Garcia Vilanova, the two Spanish journalists held hostage in Syria by an al Qaeda-linked militant group for 194 days were freed and handed over to the Turkish military in good health March 29. They pose after their arrival at Torrejon de Ardoz airbase near Madrid, Spain, March 30, 2014.
2/11Freed El Mundo Middle East correspondent Javier Espinosa laughs as his son runs towards him after his arrival at Torrejon de Ardoz airbase near Madrid, Spain, March 30, 2014.
3/11Paris - Livan dizayneri Eli Saabın 2015/2016 işlərinin nümayişi
4/11Free Syrian Army fighters walk with their weapons in Azaz village, north of Aleppo, March 30, 2014.
5/11Syrian army soldiers loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad hold their weapons as they stand near a tank in al-Maamel area in Aleppo's countryside, March 25, 2014.
6/11A convoy carries the coffin of the commander of the pro-government National Defense Forces, Hilal Assad, during his funeral in Latakia province, March 24, 2014.
7/11Syrian soldiers carry the coffin of the commander of the pro-government National Defense Forces, Hilal Assad, during his funeral at a hospital in Latakia province, March 24, 2014. (SANA)
8/11Smoke rises after what activists said was an airstrike by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Blleramoon district at the northern entrance to the city of Aleppo, March 23, 2014.
9/11Tribal dancers entertain Burundians in Bujumbura to celebrate its 53rd Independence Day.
10/11Free Syrian Army fighters prepare to fire an artillery cannon towards forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, March 23, 2014.
11/11Free Syrian Army fighters talk to each other within the compound of the police headquarters near the Justice Palace in the old city of Aleppo, March 23, 2014.
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Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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