US considers sending aid to Syrian rebels

The White House is considering a shift in policy towards the nearly two-year-long conflict in Syria, and may send body armour and armoured vehicles to rebels, and possibly provide military training as well, the Washington Post has reported citing US and European officials.

John Kerry, US secretary of state, was expected to discuss the proposed policy change with officials during his nine-nation tour of European and Arab capitals, the newspaper said on Tuesday.

US officials remain opposed to sending weapons to the rebels, it said.

Kerry was to meet Syrian opposition leaders at a Friends of Syria conference in Rome on Thursday.

He said in London on Monday that President Barack Obama was evaluating more steps to "fulfil our obligation to innocent people", but did not give details or say whether Washington was reconsidering whether to arm the rebels.

"We are determined that the Syrian oppositions is not going to be dangling in the wind," he said.

Kerry also said the continued violence in Syria, which the UN estimates has killed 70,000 people, represented further evidence that it was time for Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to relinquish his post.

At the same time, William Hague, UK foreign secretary, called for support for Syria's opposition to be increased significantly in order to help bring the protracted conflict to an end.

The US has provided millions of dollars for food, medical care and clothing for Syrians and refugees, but has not sent aid directly to the rebels or the political opposition.

The UN announced on Monday that one of its UNDOF employees had gone missing between Israel and Syria, without specifying whether the individual was a peacekeeper or a civilian worker.

Canada said that it was investigating on Tuesday, after Israeli newspaper, Times of Israel, reported that the UN staffer was Canadian, the foreign ministry said.

Source: Agencies and Al Jazeera