Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — NATO and Arab allies have agreed to high-level
consultations on supplying heavy weapons to Syrian rebels.

Diplomatic sources said 11 foreign ministers from Arab and NATO states
would meet in Qatar on June 22 to determine aid to the Sunni revolt against
Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The sources said the initiative stemmed from France,
which wants immediate and large-scale arms supplies to the rebels.

“This will be the first meeting that will discuss operational support for the opposition,” a diplomat said.

The sources said the countries scheduled to attend the opposition summit in Doha included the foreign ministers of Britain, Egypt, France, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia and the United States. They said the foreign ministers would review assessments of the Sunni revolt and the needs of those fighting the
Assad regime.

The meeting of the foreign ministers was preceded by those of military
specialists from the 11 countries, called Group of Friends of Syria. The
sources said the experts reviewed options to fulfill the military
requirements of the Sunni rebels amid the Assad offensive throughout Syria.

“There appears to be a consensus that the opposition must be helped
immediately,” the diplomat said. “But there are not insignificant
differences among the 11 over that help should entail.”

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