DAMASCUS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Western-backed rebels of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) reportedly have received "qualitative weaponry" that would "reshape of the battle" against the government troops as Russia warned that such a move is illegal, reports said Friday.
The local Syria-News website quoted Loai Mekdad, the FSA's media and political coordinator, as stating to media outlets that the group had received new weaponry that were delivered to the fighters on several fronts where they fight the Syrian troops.
"We have received shipments of modern weapons, some at our order, including those that would reshape of the battle," he was quoted as saying.
Another report by the Damas-Post news website said the FSA has also received Russian-made Ossa air defense system, quoting undisclosed source.
A day earlier, the FSA said in a statement that it was going to ask the Friends of Syria, world powers who are meeting Saturday in Qatar's Doha, to render "qualitative" weapons and to impose a no- fly zone over Syria.
France has previously said that the Friends of Syria would discuss sending significant assistance to the FSA after the victories of the Syrian army on the ground.
The Western powers have recently revealed their desire to increase their help to the "moderate" opposition to achieve a balance between the two warring sides and to push them toward a political solution through negotiations.
After its sweeping victories in the central strategic city of al-Qussair with the help of Lebanese Hezbollah militant group, the Syrian army eyed the northern province of Aleppo and other areas in central Syria as its next target to deal more blows to the rebels.
The army has even started its operation to recapture Aleppo in what they called the "North's Storm." On Friday, state-run SANA news agency said the Syrian troops destroyed a convoy of weapons coming from Turkey.
France, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have reportedly underscored the importance to keep Aleppo out of the Syrian army's control. Particularly, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said recently that the Syrian army's advancement in Aleppo must be halted.
The United States announced earlier this month that it would send weapons to the rebels in Syria, following Britain and France' lead.
The Syrian government charged that the armed groups have been provided with weapons since the beginning of the crisis in early 2011, pledging to root out insurgency and rid the country of al- Qaida fighters, who have reportedly executed more than 40 pro- Syria Palestinian refugees in Aleppo.
Sending weapons to Syrian rebels had been under intense debate by the Western powers as some of the European countries reject such a measure because the weapons could easily end up in the hands of the radical Nusra Front fighters, an offshoot of al-Qaida.
The Nusra has become the main force fighting the Syrian troops as other rebel factions are operating under its sway.
According to Syria's state media, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for not playing down the issue of sending weapons to Syria, stressing ''Russia exports weapons to the legitimate government in Syria according to international agreements and laws. ''
During the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said in a speech that arming and financing the Syrian opposition has been on for a long time, adding ''what is going on in Syria wouldn't have been possible without the weapons sent to the opposition.''
"If the United States ... recognizes one of the key Syrian opposition organizations, al-Nusra, as terrorist ... how can one deliver arms to those opposition members?" Putin said. "Where will (those weapons) end up? What role will they play?"
Putin pointed out only the Syrian people can decide on the solution to their crisis and the international community can only prepare the ground for an agreement.
SAINT PETERSBURG, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Differences over Syria existed among all members of the Group of Eight (G8), not just between Russia and the U.S., Russian President Vladimir Putin told the 17th International Economic Forum here Friday.
"All G8 members are self-sufficient states and their leaders are self-sufficient politicians on the global stage. They have their own views on current problems, not only in Syria, but in other regions as well," he said. Full story
UNITED NATIONS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- A new session of the tripartite talks on Syria involving Russia, the United States and the United Nations will take place next Tuesday in Geneva, deputy UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey told reporters Friday.
"The United Nations delegation will be headed by the joint special representative for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi," del Buey said at a daily news briefing. Full story
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