Syria Anniversary: EU Pressed On Arms Embargo

Britain and France will press the EU today to lift an arms embargo against Syria and unblock military aid to rebels on the second anniversary of the uprising.

David Cameron and French president Francois Hollande will address a summit in Brussels.

They will say they are both anxious to be freed up to despatch lethal weaponry if necessary to rebalance the odds in the continuing bloody war.

Two years after the start of the Syrian uprising, the pair will urge the others to bring forward the end-of-May date for reviewing the existing arms embargo, which only allows for "non-lethal" military support.

Syria was not originally on the agenda at a summit discussing the economic crisis designed to step up efforts to boost jobs and growth and revive economic recovery prospects.

But Mr Cameron and Mr Hollande got together on arrival in Brussels yesterday, agreeing their countries were both ready to go it alone if necessary to help the rebels.

The idea is controversial, with some EU leaders concerned the move could escalate the Syrian crisis by putting weapons in the hands of the wrong rebel groups.

But Mr Cameron and Mr Hollande argue that the desired political solution first needs a more equal military balance - something the EU's own arms embargo is preventing.

And so far the odds on winning the necessary unanimous accord to lift the arms embargo before the scheduled review date look slim.

"There is a perversity about the EU arms embargo ... it is backfiring," said one Downing Street official. "The embargo does not stop those aiding Assad, but it does stop those who want to help the opposition."

But the official said there was currently no intention of defying the rest without further negotiations, adding: "We are not considering going ahead (with arming the rebels) while the current arms embargo is in place.

"What we want is to start the discussion about changing the arms embargo."

Mr Cameron has already hinted that "it's not out of the question we might have to do things in our own way".

And Mr Hollande said yesterday: "We are ready to support the rebels ... we cannot allow the massacre of a people by a regime which right now does not want a political transition."

Meanwhile the summit is due to agree conclusions vowing to focus on competitiveness to generate jobs and growth and get stagnant economies moving.

But tensions remain between countries intent on strict austerity measures and those favouring more flexible budget restrictions to give space for recovery.