Qatar calls for arming Syrian rebels despite Annan plan http://www.islamtimes.org/vdcefe8zwjh8npi.1kbj.html Islam Times - Qatar continues to call for arming anti-government groups in Syria despite efforts by the UN and the Arab League to restore calm in the country.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani told reporters following an Arab ministerial meeting in Doha on Tuesday that his country would help armed groups fighting against the Syrian government if diplomatic efforts fail to end months of unrest in the country.He also accused the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of not complying with UN-Arab envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan and of failing to show any change in approach.His remarks came one day after Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said the chances of Annan's plan succeeding were "no higher than three percent'' and that Syrians should not be supported through peaceful means but "with arms."Qatar and Saudi Arabia are among Arab countries that have adopted a hawkish stance toward Syria since the beginning of unrest in the country last March. The two countries, monarchies with no democracies, claim that they are supporting Syrian people’s democratic aspirations.Calm has returned to most parts of Syria since the ceasefire was announced almost a week ago, though there have been reports of sporadic clashes in some parts of the country with Damascus accusing armed groups of violating the truce by continuing attacks on government forces.Opposition figures have been claiming that the army has killed a number of civilians since the ceasefire took effect last Thursday.Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011 and many people, including security forces, have been killed in the unrest.