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'Friends of Syria' group set for London talks | 'Friends of Syria' group set for London talks |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Foreign ministers from 11 Western and Arab nations are due to meet in London to discuss new ways of supporting the Syrian opposition. | Foreign ministers from 11 Western and Arab nations are due to meet in London to discuss new ways of supporting the Syrian opposition. |
The Friends of Syria group will also discuss the country's dire humanitarian situation. US Secretary of State John Kerry is among those attending. | The Friends of Syria group will also discuss the country's dire humanitarian situation. US Secretary of State John Kerry is among those attending. |
The meeting comes days after UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi stepped down over lack of progress in ending the crisis. | The meeting comes days after UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi stepped down over lack of progress in ending the crisis. |
Syria's three-year conflict has left some 150,000 people dead. | Syria's three-year conflict has left some 150,000 people dead. |
The Friends of Syria group is made up of Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US. | The Friends of Syria group is made up of Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US. |
It was set up in 2012 in response to moves by Russia and China to block UN resolutions on Syria. | It was set up in 2012 in response to moves by Russia and China to block UN resolutions on Syria. |
A UK Foreign Office spokesman said it was "the right time" for countries who support a democratic future for Syria to come together. | A UK Foreign Office spokesman said it was "the right time" for countries who support a democratic future for Syria to come together. |
"Foreign ministers will discuss how best to significantly step-up our support to the Syrian opposition, make urgent progress on improving the deteriorating humanitarian crisis and reinvigorate a political process that has stalled due to regime intransigence," the spokesman said. | "Foreign ministers will discuss how best to significantly step-up our support to the Syrian opposition, make urgent progress on improving the deteriorating humanitarian crisis and reinvigorate a political process that has stalled due to regime intransigence," the spokesman said. |
Thursday's meeting is the first time the group has met since January. | Thursday's meeting is the first time the group has met since January. |
BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says that since then, peace talks in Geneva have collapsed; Mr Brahimi has stepped down and rebel forces inside Syria have lost ground to President Bashar al-Assad. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says that since then, peace talks in Geneva have collapsed; Mr Brahimi has stepped down and rebel forces inside Syria have lost ground to President Bashar al-Assad. |
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the "hopelessly divided" international community was partly to blame for leaving Mr Brahimi battling "almost impossible odds" in brokering a peace deal. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the "hopelessly divided" international community was partly to blame for leaving Mr Brahimi battling "almost impossible odds" in brokering a peace deal. |
Efforts to reconvene peace talks were dealt a fresh blow when Mr Assad announced presidential elections for 3 June. He is seeking a third seven-year term. | Efforts to reconvene peace talks were dealt a fresh blow when Mr Assad announced presidential elections for 3 June. He is seeking a third seven-year term. |
The idea was dismissed by the US as "a parody of democracy" and Mr Ban said it could torpedo efforts to broker a peace deal. | The idea was dismissed by the US as "a parody of democracy" and Mr Ban said it could torpedo efforts to broker a peace deal. |