Obama seeks $500 mln from Congress to help moderate Syrian rebels

President Barack Obama, under pressure from some lawmakers for greater US backing for Syria's opposition, on Thursday asked the US Congress approve $500 million to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels seeking to oust President Bashar Assad.
A White House statement said rebels would be vetted before being given assistance, in an effort to assuage concerns that some equipment provided to the Syrian opposition might ultimately fall into the hands of American enemies.

Obama has been under strong pressure from some lawmakers to increase assistance to the Syrian opposition in that country's civil war.
[jpost.com]- By REUTERS
26/6/14
--
-
Related:

• British security forces will find it impossible to monitor all the estimated 500 jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq after they return home

• Britain threatened by UK jihadist fighters in Syria "for many years to come". - An estimated 12,000 foreign fighters have gone to Syria since the war began...

• UN’s Ban asks arms embargo to be imposed on Syria

-----

• CNN interview: Hillary Clinton notes distance from Obama on Syria rebels (arming moderates in Syria)

• Brahimi: Syria Terrorists Responsible Used Chemical Weapons in Khan al-Asal (interview with Der Speigel)