David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has said for the first time that Britain could go it alone to supply arms to Syria's rebel fighters as he said that the government was prepared to veto or defy a European arms embargo.
Many European states remain fearful of the consequences of sending arms into Syria Photo: AFP
By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
7:47PM GMT 12 Mar 2013
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Mr Cameron signalled his frustration with the European Union's failure to radically revise the total ban on weapons sales to the war torn state and said his government was ready to act on its own if other EU states refused to change their stance.
British diplomats were rebuffed in an attempt to radically revise the embargo last month as other member states backed minor changes allowing "non-lethal" aid such as body armour and armoured ambulances.
Mr Cameron said the government would renew its efforts for change when the next three-month review is conducted but added that Britain remained an "independent country" that was ready to act in its own interests.
"I hope that we can persuade our European partners, if and when a further change becomes necessary, they will agree with us," he told the liaison committee in parliament. "I hope that wouldn't be the case. What I would like to do is continue with an EU approach.
"But if we can't, then it's not out of the question we might have to do things in our own way. It's possible."
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The prime minister repeated a point made by William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, last week that the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Syria made it imperative to arm less radical rebel groups in the battle to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
"It may be that doing nothing will see the level of Jihadism get worse," Mr Cameron said. "It's worth standing back and asking 'Why are we doing this?' It seems that if we want to help bring about a transition in Syria, we have to work with opposition groups."
Many European states remain fearful of the consequences of sending arms into Syria, viewing the end destination of the weapons as uncertain.
Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister, backed Whitehall's drive and claimed removing the embargo would help level the playing field in the two-year-old conflict in which 70,000 people have died.
However Guido Westerwelle, the German foreign minister led opposition to the move and claimed lifting the bank could lead to a proliferation of weapons in the region and spark a proxy war.
Without unanimous agreement between all EU members to either renew or amend the ban in three months' time, the embargo becomes void.
Mr Cameron’s comments came as the pro-Assad newspaper Al-Watan warned that the army was “in perfect condition” and that it “has at its disposal enough men and weapons to fight for years to defend Syria”.
Mr Hague announced a fresh aid package last week would include armoured vehicles and body armour for the opposition.
The announcement said the extra aid would "help save lives" amid a crisis of catastrophic proportions.
The EU is the largest humanitarian donor for the Syrian crisis, with more than £374 million for distressed Syrians.
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