Lieberman calls on US arms support for Syrians

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman says the United States should provide weapons to the Syrians to fight President Bashar Assad.

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, the Independent senator said it's time to give Syrians weapons so they can battle Assad, whom he called a dictator. He said other nations also should help arm the Syrians.

Lieberman, who was elected to a fourth term in 2006 as an Independent, caucuses with the Democrats.

He lost the Democratic Party nomination after antagonizing liberal Democrats with his support of the war in Iraq. Lieberman is not seeking re-election this year.

Assad's regime has pursued a harsh crackdown against an uprising that began last March. A U.N. estimate in January says more than 5,400 people have been killed.