Syria lashed out at Saudi Arabia on Saturday, a day after the kingdom's foreign minister backed the idea of arming the rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad's government, accusing Riyadh of becoming "a partner" in the killings taking place in Syria.

 

The sharp riposte from Damascus was published in a state-run newspaper, The Associated Press reported on Saturday.

 

Syria's traditionally cold relations with Saudi have worsened sharply since the 11-month-old rebellion against Assad began. 

 

Assad has announced a Sunday referendum on a new constitution. The charter would allow a bigger role for political opposition to challenge Assad's Baath Party, which has governed Syria since a 1963. 

 

In recent days, U.S. officials have increasingly spoken out against Damascus and some U.S. politicians have called for arming the Syrian opposition. 

 

On Monday, senior U.S. Senator John McCain said it is time for the international community to provide increased assistance to the Syrian opposition. 

 

"There are ways to get weapons to people who are fighting against this kind of oppression, we showed that in Libya," McCain told reporters on a visit to al-Qods (Jerusalem). 

 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also pledged to talk Russia and China into changing their positions on Syria. 

 

President Assad said on Monday that some foreign countries are fueling unrest in Syria by supporting and funding armed terrorist groups fighting against the government. He said that they are blocking attempts to end months of unrest in the country and preventing it from treading the path of reforms. 

 

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011. Many people, including security forces, have been killed in the unrest. Damascus blames “outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups” for the unrest, asserting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.

 

(Source: Agencies)