Britain and France want the embargo eased to aide rebels fighting against President Assad's government forces.

 

　　But most other countries stand behind Germany's cautionary stance, and are worried this will escalate the violence in the war-torn country.

 

　　Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore:

 

　　"My view and the view of the Irish government is that the further militarisation of the situation in Syria would not be helpful. It is our view that it would lead to further casualties, that what we need to do, is we need to support a political solution, a peaceful solution and we need to ensure that the humanitarian aid that we have committed to providing to the people of Syria, that that is delivered effectively and soon."

 

　　Meantime, France and the UK expressed concern over what they said was Assad's willingness to use chemical weapons.

 

　　The Syrian government and rebels accused each other of using such weapons in a rocket attack near Aleppo earlier this week that killed 26 people.

 

　　However, a U.S. official has said it increasingly appeared that a chemical weapon was not used.

 

　　The current EU embargo runs out in May.

 

　　Last month the bloc did amend the rules to allow shipments on non-lethal equipment, such as armoured vehicles, to the rebels.