Syria slams Washington over arming rebels

DAMASCUS - Syria's Foreign Ministry slammed Thursday the US intention to arm the Syrian rebels, saying it reveals America's role in fueling the domestic crisis in Syria.

The ministry's remarks came in response to recent media reports that indicated the US desire to press forward with its decision to arm the rebels fighting the Syrian government troops.

"It has become clear that America's intentions aim to prolong terrorism and violence in Syria to destabilize security and stability in the region in favor of Israel's aggressive goals," the ministry said in a statement.

Claiming that the Syrian people and army are able to bring down the Israeli-American schemes, the statement said "The United States is dishonest about finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis," and it "hasn't stopped arming the terrorists since the eruption of the crisis in Syria via supporting their criminal acts that targeted the Syrian people and the country's infrastructure."

Syria's main opposition group in exile, the Syrian National Council, has welcomed the US intention, regarding it as a "step forward."

Meanwhile, Russia, the main international ally of the Syrian administration, accused the United States of stalling chances for peace in Syria.

American plans will undermine joint efforts to organize an international peace conference on Syria in Geneva that was agreed upon with Washington in May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.

"If our American partners are now focusing on arming the opposition and are sharing plans ... to strike Syrian government positions, then this, of course, runs against agreements to hold a conference," he said.