12 Sep 2012

Syrian conflict will be prolonged by aiding opposition

5:35 am on 12 September 2012

The leader of a United Nations monitoring mission in Syria has warned that Western governments supporting the opposition, with either money or weapons, risk prolonging the conflict.

General Robert Mood told the BBC that countries aiding the rebels risk the opposite result to the one they hope for.

He also said the size of an outside force needed to end the violence is now unachievable.