EU Cautious About Arming Syrian Opposition

Reluctant to loosen arms embargo

A French push to allow Europe to supply some arms to Syria's opposition forces met a lukewarm response Thursday, with European officials saying caution was required before watering down the broad weapons embargo.

The European Union introduced an arms embargo on Syria last year and has moved in recent months to make it tighter. Brussels initially aimed the measure at President Bashar al-Assad's regime, but the ban also applies to the opposition. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has frequently said sending arms to Syria could worsen the country's civil war.