"Government forces and opponents of President Bashar al-Assad clashed in cities and countryside across Syria on Tuesday and Arab officials confirmed that regional governments would be ready to arm the resistance if the bloodshed did not cease.
With Assad seemingly oblivious to international condemnation of his campaign to crush the revolt, Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia prepared for a new resolution at the United Nations in the next few days which would support a peace plan forged at a meeting in Cairo on Sunday.
But
Arab League diplomats said that arming the opposition forces was now officially an option.
A resolution passed at the meeting urged Arabs to "provide all kinds of political and material support" to the opposition.
This would allow arms transfers, they confirmed to Reuters."