EU to look at 'all options' to aid Syrian rebels Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's options are believed to be running out. For the first time, the EU has instructed foreign ministers "to work on all options to support and help the opposition and to enable greater support for the protection of civilians." The new harder diplomatic language also commits the EU to working for "political transition... towards a future without President Assad and his illegitimate regime" in move that paves the way for the West to give military support to rebels early next year. "I want a very clear message to go to President Assad that nothing is off the table," he said. I want us to help shape that opposition, advise and work with it, so we can see the speediest possible transition in Syria. It's a very difficult situation, there are no easy answers, these things take time. But as an EU and as a country, Britain, we should be doing everything we can to speed up that transition. Britain will next month table changes to the EU arms embargo on Syria that would allow European states to supply weapons to the military wing of the Syrian Opposition Council. One proposal would retain an embargo banning sales to Syrian regime forces but allow exports to its opponents when the measure is renewed. Supporters of Syria's rebels are preparing to negotiate significant changes to the embargo ahead of the EU foreign minister's meeting on January 31, officials said. However a diplomatic push on the embargo would depend on the Syrian opposition establishing a formal military command that excluded al-Qaeda linked groups. "The embargo going forward from March should only apply to the official Syrian army but in making this argument it will be important that any aid supplied from Europe will only go to a military council of the opposition coalition and prevented leakage of arms to al-Qaeda factions," an official involved in the preparations said. Francois Hollande, the French President, said the tide was turning against Assad and that EU action in the days and weeks ahead would be criticial. "On the ground, the war is now turning against Assad and we should set ourselves this objective - make Assad leave as quickly as possible," he said.