NEW YORK -
Secretary of State John
Kerry announced the United States will directly help the rebels who are trying
to remove Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad from power.
Kerry made the announcement at an
international conference on Syria in Rome. Kerry said the move will put
pressure on Syria's longtime dictator to step down.
The U.S. also hopes the aid will help
the rebels counter some of the Islamic radicals who have gained power since the
fighting began.
The announcement does not include
military weapons the opposition says it needs to build an army.
But several European
nations are expected to provide new assistance in the coming days, possibly
including equipment like body armor and night vision goggles.
More
than 70,000 Syrians have been killed in the nearly two year old war.
