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             White House: Decision to Arm Syrian Rebels 'Finalized'

   by VOA News

   U.S. President Barack Obama will face difficult talks with Russian
   President Vladimir Putin next week after his decision to arm Syrian
   rebels.
   White House officials say the decision is "already finalized" and will
   not be changed by his upcoming meeting with fellow heads of the Group
   of Eight leading industrialized nations in Northern Ireland.
   The United States is increasing military aid to the Syrian rebels after
   determining that President Bashar al-Assad's government has used
   chemical weapons during the nation's civil war.
   President Obama's deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, told
   reporters Friday the U.S. has a "broad range of evidence" associated
   with multiple incidents of chemical weapons use, including nerve gas.
   But Syria's foreign ministry said Friday the U.S. accusation - stemming
   from an intelligence report - is based on "fabricated information," and
   dismissed the claim as "lies."
   Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov echoed Syria's sentiments in a
   phone conversation with his U.S. counterpart, saying the U.S.
   accusations were "not supported by trustworthy facts."
   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Lavrov in the phone call Friday
   that it is in the interests of both the U.S. and Russia to restore
   Syria to a stable situation. He added that the Syrian government should
   allow U.N. investigators into Syria, and that Russia should support
   this effort.
   U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday there can be no
   certainty of chemical weapons use in Syria without an investigation on
   the ground. He said there is no military solution to the war and that
   increasing arms on either side "would not be helpful."
   The two-year conflict has cost Syria more than 90,000 lives, though Mr.
   Ban said Friday there are indications the actual death toll could be
   "well above that."
   The White House has reiterated President Obama's view that chemical
   weapons cross a "red line" and necessitate more U.S. involvement in the
   war.
   U.S. intelligence officials have been saying for months they suspect
   Syria's government has used chemical weapons.  But Mr. Obama had said
   he needed to see firm evidence before deciding on his next move.
   The U.S. has so far provided only non-lethal aid to the rebels.  U.S.
   officials say the newly authorized military support would include
   sending weapons and ammunition to the Syrian opposition without sending
   U.S. troops to Syria.
   White House officials say no decision has been made on other military
   options, such as the establishment of a no-fly zone.
   Mr. Obama has been reluctant to arm the Syrian rebels, out of concern
   the weapons may end up in the hands of Islamic extremists that make up
   a growing part of the opposition forces fighting to overthrow President
   Bashar al-Assad.
   Many of the United States' European allies have so far reacted
   supportively to the chemical weapons assessment.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/syria/1682349.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/syria/1682349.html