EU ministers agree to lift Syrian rebels arms embargo

Britain’s foreign secretary William Hague said the “right decision” had been reached after European Union foreign ministers agreed to end the embargo on supplying arms to opposition forces in Syria.

Mr Hague, who had led efforts for the restrictions on weapons to be relaxed, said “no immediate decision” would be made on sending arms to rebels fighting Bashar Assad’s regime.

Following a marathon meeting in Brussels, Mr Hague wrote on Twitter: “Right EU decision tonight. Arms embargo on Syrian opposition ended. No immediate decision to send arms. Other sanctions remain.”