Clinton pledges more aid to Syrian rebels

NEW YORK (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is pledging millions more dollars in American assistance to the Syrian opposition as the U.S. and its allies explore new ways to help those seeking to oust President Bashar Assad.

Clinton announced Friday that the Obama administration would provide the political opposition with an additional $15 million on non-lethal aid as well as $30 million in humanitarian support. The US has provided more than $130 million in humanitarian aid and almost $45 million in non-lethal aid to the rebels.

She made the pledges at a gathering of the Friends of Syria group on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Clinton and other foreign ministers from the group met with nine Syrian opposition figures, including several who traveled from Syria to attend Friday’s session.