McCain: US may arm Syrian opposition

US Senator John McCain has said that the US administration is reviewing whether to support opponents of Bashar al-Assad’s regime to confront the support received by the Syrian regime from Russia. McCain added:”I have always emphasised the need to support the Free Syrian Army, which is in need of weapons since Bashar Assad is supported with arms from the Russians.” He continued: "We need to provide a safe area for the National Syrian Army and Syrian resistance in order to be able to organise their affairs and treat the wounded. I think that the US administration should help in organising the resistance to stop the massacres, during which 12 thousand people were killed, according to the latest information.” The US Senator,at the beginning of his tour in Lebanon on Thursday, met the head of Lebanese Forces Party, Dr Samir Geagea, and commander of the Armed Forces, Jan Qahwaji. McCain said after meeting Geagea: "I appreciate the leadership and friendship of Dr Geagea. We discussed the difficult matters experienced by the peoples of Lebanon and Syria. I have expressed my appreciation to the Lebanese people who receive Syrian refugees and provide them with assistance and supplies. We agreed that the longer the Syrian conflict will be, the radical parties, like al-Qaeda, will have huge influence in Syria. It has become known that I strongly support providing arms and necessary assistance to those who are fighting for freedom in Syria. " He added: "We discussed also the political situation in Lebanon and some of the problems in the parliament and the need to continue the economic development and reform." As for a solution to the Syrian crisis, the senator remarked: "We have repeatedly emphasised the need to support the Free Syrian Army, which needs weapons as Bashar Assad is provided with arms by the Russians. We need to provide a safe area for the National Syrian Army and Syrian resistance . 12 thousand people  were killed according to the latest information by human rights organisations which inform that there is torture and killing occurring to the Syrian people and this must be stopped.” “Lebanon is facing many difficulties related to legislation, forcing some to leave the parliament. We would like to see all parties working together again, but given the situation in the United States, it is difficult for us to criticise the internal affairs of Lebanon". As for the concerns of the Lebanese that the Syrian refugees will remain in Lebanon, similar to what happened with Palestinian refugees,  McCain replied : "As you know there is no agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians to find a solution to Palestinian and Israeli states, which is supported by the United States. If we can overcome Assad, I am confident that the Syrian people will return to their homes, the two cases are very different. " McCain visited the Commander of the Armed Forces in his office in Yarze, in the presence of Connolly, and discussed cooperation between the armies of the two countries and ways to strengthen the capacity of the Lebanese army, particularly the activation of a US assistance programme. He then, received the personal representative of the United Nations in Lebanon, Mr Derek Plumbly, to discuss the general situation.