US senators offer bill to aid Syrian opposition

Bob Casey and Marco Rubio propose to supply rebels with humanitarian aid and defensive equipment

19 March 2013, 4:41 pm

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Free Syrian Army fighters from the Knights of the North brigade leave one of their caves to reconnaissance a Syrian army forces base of al-Karmid, at Jabal al-Zaweya, in Idlib province, Syria, Wednesday, Feb. 27 (Photo credit: AP/Hussein Malla)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Senate Democrat and Republican are pressing for non-lethal aid to vetted Syrian opposition groups battling the regime of President Bashar Assad.

Sens. Bob Casey and Marco Rubio unveiled their legislation on Tuesday. The measure would authorize additional humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people and provide equipment such as body armor and communications to opposition groups.

Casey and Rubio told reporters that the horrors of the two-year civil war have gone on too long. The lawmakers left open the possibility of arming the rebels at a later date. Congressman Eliot Engel introduced legislation in the House of Representatives on Monday that would arm and train vetted opposition groups.

The bipartisan Senate measure also would expand sanctions against the Central Bank of Syria.