Kerry in Qatar to press for coordinated aid to Syria rebels

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Qatar to meet officials from nearly a dozen nations to firm up and coordinate military and humanitarian aid going to the Syrian opposition trying to oust President Bashar Assad, The Associated Press reports.

Kerry flew to Doha, the capital of Qatar, Saturday, June 22. It's the first stop on his seven-nation trip through the Mideast and Asia.

U.S. officials hope the meeting will re-energize a newly expanded Syrian opposition group, which is to elect new leadership in coming days.

Kerry is a strong proponent of international intervention to stop the civil war in Syria, which has claimed 93,000 lives.

President Barack Obama recently announced the U.S. will send weapons to the rebels, despite concern the arms could end up in the hands of Islamic extremists.