John Kerry Says the U.S. Will "Empower" Syrian Rebels

But will not provide weapons

Washington will work to "empower" Syria's opposition, its top diplomat has said in Riyadh where he held discussions on Iran's nuclear ambitions and met with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.

John Kerry, US secretary of state, on his first tour of the Gulf since taking office, stressed on Monday that there was not yet possibility of arming the opposition, even as his Saudi counterpart insisted on the right of Syrians to self-defence.