Arab summit defends right to arm Syria rebels

An Arab League summit in Qatar decides that member states have the right to provide military support to Syrian rebels.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) QATARI FOREIGN MINISTER, HAMAD BIN JASIM AL-THANI, SAYING:

"We worked for more than a year and a half before we mentioned the word arming. We have done all we could to find a peaceful solution. Unfortunately this solution did not come because the [Syrian] regime was betting on a solution by force."

The Arab League is also urging the international community to recognise the opposition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

Meanwhile, Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom is to head a U.N. investigation into allegations that rebels used chemical weapons in an attack near the northern city of Aleppo.

But Western countries sought a probe of all claims about the use of such arms, including rebel charges that the government forces used them.

If it turned out the rebels have used them, it could make count