Britain says it will send armoured vehicles, body armour to Syrian rebels

LONDON – Britain says it will provide armoured vehicles, body armour and search-and-rescue equipment to Syria’s opposition — but is still stopping short of arming the country’s rebels.

Foreign Secretary William Hague says Britain is broadening its assistance to include “all forms of technical assistance to the Syrian National Coalition,” including electricity repair and water purification equipment and testing equipment for chemical weapons.

Hague told lawmakers in the House of Commons on Wednesday that the measures are “a necessary, proportionate and lawful response to a situation of extreme humanitarian suffering.”

But he said Britain is sticking to the current European Union sanctions against Syria, which include an arms embargo that prevents weapons being funneled to rebels fighting President Bashar Assad.