Clinton and Gulf ministers meet in Saudi Arabia call for rebels support in Syria

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended the inaugural meeting of a new U.S.-Gulf security forum in Riyadh on Saturday.           

Clinton said at the meeting with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) the United States will work with Gulf Arab nations to strengthen their shared defenses against threats including Iran.               

Speculation about Tehran's nuclear ambitions is a source of anxiety among Sunni-led Gulf Arab states, for whom Shi'ite Iran has long been a regional rival.               

Clinton said Saturday's discussions with Gulf foreign ministers would include the political change that has swept the Middle East in the past year and the violence in Syria,in addition to Iran's disputed nuclear program "and curbing its interference in the affairs of its neighbors".               

Saudi Arabia, with Qatar, has led Arab efforts to press Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end his crackdown on the uprising and step aside.               

The Saudis now want to see stronger action against Assad, including the arming of rebels, something the United States is reluctant to do for fear of being drawn into a messy civil war.               

After meeting Saudi and other Gulf Arab foreign ministers on Saturday, Clinton will head to Turkey for meetings with the Syrian opposition.