France: Arming Syrian rebels could lead to civil war

Foreign minister nixes possibility for arms transfer and asks world to do the same

15 March 2012, 3:36 pm

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Syrian rebels take position during clashes with Syrian Army forces in Idlib, northern Syria. (photo credit: AP/Rodrigo Abd)

PARIS (AP) — France’s foreign minister says his country and the international community should not arm the Syrian opposition because that could lead to a catastrophic civil war.

The Syrian opposition is divided and rebel forces are asking for new weapons after defeats by government troops.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe says arming the opposition could lead to “a catastrophe even larger than the one that exists today.”

France, Syria’s former colonial ruler, hosts Syrian opposition members and has been pushing for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down.

Speaking on France-Culture radio Thursday, Juppe said, “the Syrian people are deeply divided, and if we give arms to a certain faction of the Syrian opposition, we would make a civil war among Christians, Alawites, Sunnis and Shiites.”