US says its stepping up assistance to Syrian opposition

The Obama Administration is reviewing its options in Syria as stepping up assistance to the Syrian opposition in its efforts to oust the Assad regime, the White House has said.
"We have been stepping up our assistance to the opposition significantly, and we are constantly reviewing our assistance programmes and what kinds of assistance we will provide," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said.
He, however, said that as of now it is not providing weapons to the Syrian opposition.
Carney said there was "no new development" and as of now, US has not provided any lethal assistance to the opposition forces.

"We're evaluating all options. The President made clear just yesterday that all options are on the table when it comes to his policy actions with regard to Syria. But I have no policy change to announce today," Carney said.
"It is our policy that we have not and are not providing weapons to the Syrian opposition. But we are continuing to review our options," he said yesterday.

In this period, the US has stepped up its assistance, including direct help for the first time to the Syrian Military Council, he said.
"We have also been engaged with our partners in an effort to prop up the opposition, to help it stand up, to get to know it better and understand its elements and provide aid to those elements that we have confidence in, (and have) confidence in their support for a more democratic Syria and that they do not oppose US interests," he said.

The aim has always been to bring about a transition in Syria that results in the departure from power of Bashar al-Assad, he said.
"There's no question Syria's future cannot include Assad. His hands are bathed in blood of his own people, and his actions have continually reinforced the fact that he has no place in Syria's future and no support from the Syrian people," Carney said.