France suggests arming Syrian rebels

PARIS (AP) — French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has raised the prospect of sending "defensive weapons" to Syria's rebels.

Fabius said Thursday his country will ask the European Union to consider lifting the arms embargo regarding Syria.

He said, "We must not militarize the conflict" in Syria, "but it's obviously unacceptable that there are liberated zones and they're bombed" by the regime of Bashar Assad.

In an interview with RTL radio, the minister said "the question of defensive arms will be raised," without providing details about what such arms would be.

"We must find the right balance," he said.

France quickly recognized a new opposition coalition formed Sunday as the Syrian people's sole representative — the first Western nation to do so.

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