'UK plans to provide military aid to Syria rebels'

Int'l coalition plans to provide training to Syria rebels, 'The Independent' reports; officials tell ABC Assad will use WMDs.

Free Syria Army fighters in Saraqeb 370 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS / Handout)
Free Syria Army fighters in Saraqeb 370 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS / Handout)
Britain is part of an international coalition devising a plan to provide military training along with air and naval support to Syrian rebels, British newspaper The Independent reported Monday.
According to the report, "the head of Britain’s armed forces, General Sir David Richards, hosted a confidential meeting in London a few weeks ago attended by the military chiefs of France, Turkey, Jordan, Qatar and the UAE, and a three-star American general, in which the strategy was discussed at length."
The conference was held  at the behest of British Prime Minister David Cameron, The Independent said citing senior Whitehall officials.
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Meanwhile, a former top general in Syria's chemical weapons program said he harbors no doubt that Syrian President Bashar Assad will deploy his arsenal of chemical weapons, ABC News reported.
"The regime started to fall and deteriorate. It's coming to its end," retired Major General Adnan Sillou told ABC. "It's highly possible that he'll start using [chemical weapons] to kill his own people because this regime is a killer."
The main elements in Syria's chemical arsenal include sarin, VX and tabun nerve agents, Silou told ABC.