The US defence secretary has acknowledged for the first time that he supports arming Syrian rebels.
In testimony to Congress, Leon Panetta said he still supported the supply of weapons to rebels fighting forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The plan was proposed by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and David Petraeus, then director of the CIA, but reportedly rebuffed by the White House.
The US has so far offered only diplomatic backing to Syria's rebels.
More than 60,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the 22-month conflict.
The UN says it fears continuing violence could destabilise the whole region, and more than 600,000 Syrians have fled into neighbouring countries.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21373367