Britain will supply body armour to Syrian rebels

Saturday 11 August 2012

Britain will expand its support for the Syrian political opposition fighting President Bashar Assad with an extra £5 million of non-lethal practical assistance, Foreign Secretary William Hague said today.

Custom byline text:

Elizabeth Barrett london

William Hague said the financial assistance would help protect civilians from "some of the worst of the violence".

He said: "So now, in the absence of diplomatic progress, the United Kingdom will do much more. We will expand our support to the Syrian people and the Syrian political opposition with an extra £5m in non-lethal practical assistance.

"This will help protect unarmed opposition groups, human rights activists and civilians from some of the worst of the violence."This is in addition to, and separate from, our humanitarian assistance."Speaking at the Foreign Office, Mr Hague said: "We expect our assistance will include trauma and medical supplies for civilians in areas under regime control and could include items such as paramedic trauma kits, specialist trauma treatment, surgical equipment, field dressings, antibiotics, painkillers and water-purification kits to respond to the cutting of fresh-water supplies."Mr Hague said assistance would include communications equipment to "help political activists overcome the regime's communications blockade".The Foreign Secretary said: "It's well recognised that the situation in Syria is an affront to the conscience of humanity."He said the UN Security Council, which will meet again at the end of this month, had a responsibility to "stop the bloodshed", but added: "The people of Syria cannot wait indefinitely. People are dying and are trapped without food and shelter."Mr Hague said the Syrian people need urgent help and so the UK was greatly increasing its support for them.He said more training would be provided to support the documentation by Syrian activists of human-rights violations and abuses and "to support steps to help Syrian opposition groups to uphold human rights".He added assistance could also include life-saving protective equipment, such as body armour, "to help those carrying out vital work in the crossfire".But he stressed Britain would not provide lethal assistance and that its support would be "consistent with our laws and values".He said: "This is assistance that will help save lives, not abandon all Syrians to the mercy of the regime."Efforts to achieve a united UN Security Council response –currently blocked by Russia and China – would continue, Mr Hague said. "We will not pause or rest in trying to seek a diplomatic solution," he said.Mr Hague refused to say whom Britain was speaking to from the political side of the Free Syrian Army. He said: "I'm not going to name names because these are people who are great enemies, of course, of the Assad regime, and they would be in danger if we did that."Meanwhile, Rebels fighting Mr Assad's forces in Aleppo promised a counter-attack yesterday after losing ground earlier and residents fled in cars crammed with belongings during a lull in fighting.The rebels were pushed back from the Salaheddin district on Thursday by troops seeking to re-establish control over Syria's largest city. Nearly 150,000 refugees have fled the country since the conflict began 17 months ago, the UN said.

Contextual targeting label:

Business

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Britain will supply body armour to Syrian rebels

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED