WASHINGTON, Aug 2: As the White House announced additional $12 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria on Thursday, the US media reported that President Barack Obama also has authorised covert support for Syrian rebels trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

“The quickest way to end the bloodshed and suffering of the Syrian people is for Bashar al-Assad to recognise that the Syrian people will not allow him to continue in power,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney while announcing additional humanitarian aid.

Mr Carney said that the United States was now providing “$76 million in assistance for food, water, medical supplies, clothing, hygiene kits, and other humanitarian relief to those most urgently in need.”

The money goes to various groups and NGOs helping Syrian refugees in Turkey and Jordan. Meanwhile, the US media quoted senior administration officials as saying that President Obama had also signed a covert directive authorising US support for Syrian rebels.

“The secret order, referred to as an intelligence ‘finding’, allows for clandestine support by the CIA and other agencies,” CNN reported.

The reports did not say when was the authorisation signed but noted that the United States had been helping the rebels for several months.

But the White House insisted that the US was only providing “non-lethal assistance” to the opposition. “We don't believe that adding to the number of weapons in Syria is what's needed to help bring about a peaceful transition,” Mr Carney said.

The US media noted that after the UN Security Council failed last month to impose tougher sanctions against the Assad regime, the Obama administration had made it clear that it would step up its assistance to the rebels.

Last week, the US Treasury Department allowed the Washington Syrian Support Group to provide direct financial assistance to the Free Syrian Army. The group, however, is not allowed to send military equipment.

During the war in Libya, President Obama signed a similar directive authorising covert assistance for the rebels who later toppled Muammar Qadhafi.