France, Saudi, UAE, Jordan to 'Strengthen' Support for Syria Rebels

France, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan have agreed to strengthen the Syrian opposition in its battle against Bashar Assad's regime, the French presidency said Friday.

After a meeting in Paris, French President Francois Hollande and foreign ministers from the three countries "agreed on the need to strengthen international support for the democratic opposition to allow it to face attacks by the regime," the Elysee said in a statement.

The statement said they agreed on the "need to remain firm with Bashar Assad's regime, to dissuade him from again using chemical weapons and to have him commit to negotiations on finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis."

It said the regime's "obstinance" was helping "extremist movements" and "threatens regional and international security."