Britain, France, U.S. Criticize Russian Arms Sales to Syria

Britain, France and the United States on Tuesday condemned Russia's arms sales to Syria which they said was fueling President Bashar al-Assad's deadly crackdown on protests.

Britain's U.N. ambassador Mark Lyall-Grant called the Russian weapons sales "irresponsible," at a Security Council debate on the Middle East.

"We are concerned about the supply of weapons into Syria -- whether sales to the government or illegal smuggling to the regime or opposition," Lyall Grant said.

Without mentioning Russia by name, Lyall-Grant quoted an interview that Russia's U.N. ambassador Vitaly Churkin gave to the BBC in which he said the Russian sales had "no effect on the situation at all."

"We fundamentally disagree," the British envoy said. "It is glaringly obvious that transferring weapons into a volatile and violent situation is irresponsible and will only fuel the bloodshed."

France's U.N. envoy Gerard Araud made similar criticism, highlighting the growing death toll and alleging that the government action against protesters "now can be characterized as war crimes."

"Arms embargos should be imposed, weapons are arriving from Iran," Araud told the U.N. debate.

"It is unacceptable for countries, including within the Council, to continue to provide the means by which violence is committed against the Syrian people."

U.S. ambassador Susan Rice also raised Washington's concern, again without mentioning Russia by name.

"We call on supplier countries to voluntarily halt arms transfers to the regime. And, we encourage all nations to join the widening effort to stop the flow of weapons to the Assad regime."

The European Union and United States already has an arms embargo against the Damascus government. But Syria last month signed a $550 million contract to purchase 36 Yak-130 advanced training fighter planes from Russia, the Russian Kommersant business daily reported Monday.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week insisted his country's arms trade with Syria was legal under international law amid controversy over a mystery shipment that reportedly delivered arms to Damascus.

Russia and China vetoed one European resolution in October condemning Assad's crackdown, saying it was part of a regime change campaign.

European countries have been building international support for a new Arab League proposal for Syria under which Assad would have to hand over his powers to a deputy and new elections organized.