John Kerry - To Give Syrian Rebels Medical - Not Arms Reuters - Food Aid

By Arshad Mohammed plus Khaled Yacoub Oweis

ROME Thu Feb 28, 2013 1:29pm EST

ROME (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday them will probably for initially provide non-lethal help to Syrian rebels and much more compared to twice its support in order to Syria's civilian opposition, disappointing opposing team with President Bashar al-Assad clamoring for Western weapons.

The United States solid the actual assist as an easy way to help beef up the rebels' well-liked support. It will comprise medical supplies, meal for rebel fighters and $60 million to help your city visitors produce standard services like security, training along with sanitation.

U.S. Secretary with State John Kerry declared the brand new guidelines immediately after your achieving of 11 generally European and also Arab nations around the world inside the "Friends with Syria" group.

The assist wouldn't look as if entirely please the particular Syrian National Council opposition, a fractious Cairo-based class that has effective creating for you to achieve traction inside Syria, particularly amongst disparate rebel forces.

"Many features . focus (more) to the span belonging to the rebel fighter's mustache when compared with they are doing within the body from the children being killed," Syrian National Coalition President Moaz Alkhatib mentioned at an look with Kerry along with Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi.

TALKS ON PRIME MINISTER POSTPONED

In just what analysts described to be a indication associated with disappointment, Syria's political opposition provides postponed speaks to choose the best choice of the provisional government, two others sources told Reuters with Beirut.

Opposition leaders hoped a new Saturday interacting with in Istanbul might elect a best minister to operate in rebel-controlled instances Syria, vulnerable by way of a slide into disorder as the warfare among Assad's forces in addition to insurgents nears its second anniversary.

While one particular supply claimed the achieving might take place later while in the week, an additional reference said it absolutely was defer since the about three most likely prospects for primary minister had bookings about using this purpose without much more tangible intercontinental support.

"The opposition have been progressively more signaling so it can be fed up with waiting and no one significant will accept to be mind associated with a new govt without real political and also logistical support," stated Syrian political commentator Hassan Bali, who world inside Germany.

Bali explained this United States as well as other associates from the main "Friends of Syria" nations made an appearance intent "on raising the actual initial ante next to Assad but are not really confident how."

A remaining communique stated contributors would "coordinate their efforts carefully in order to ideal allow the actual Syrian people today along with support the particular Supreme Military Command of this (rebel) Free Syrian Army throughout its work that will these exercise self-defense".

More than 70,000 Syrians are already wiped out in a fierce discord that will began by using peaceful anti-Assad protests virtually eighteen months ago. Some 860,000 have fled in foreign countries and several million are usually out of place within the state and also will need humanitarian assistance.

The United States provides granted $385 million within humanitarian help nevertheless U.S. President Barack Obama has so far turned down to give arms, in conflict it is difficult to counteract them through decreasing on the hands and wrists of militants who can use them with Western targets.