US will not block European efforts to arm Syria rebels says John Kerry

The United States will not oppose moves by some European nations to arm Syrian rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad, top US diplomat John Kerry said Monday."President (Barack) Obama has made it clear that the United States does not stand in the way of other countries that have made a decision to provide arms, whether it's France or Britain or others," Kerry told reporters. EU leaders are due to meet this week to discuss easing an EU arms embargo, amid statements from Paris and London that it is time to start arming the Syrian opposition. Obama "believes we need to change President Assad's calculation," Kerry said, after talks with his Australian counterpart Bob Carr. Kerry reiterated that Obama "is evaluating and will continue to evaluate any additional options available in order to make that happen." The United States has provided non-lethal and humanitarian aid to the Syrian opposition but refused to supply arms, fearful of pouring more weapons into a complex conflict now into its third year which has claimed some 70,000 lives. "Assad is receiving help from the Iranians, he is receiving help from some al-Qaeda related elements, he's receiving help from Hezbollah and obviously some help that is coming in through the Russians," Kerry said. "If he believes he can shoot it out, Syrians and region have a problem, and the world has a problem."