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| EU talks will go down to the wire, says Philip Hammond | EU talks will go down to the wire, says Philip Hammond |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said Britain needs a "robust deal" for staying in the EU, which will only be decided when heads of government meet on Thursday to finalise an agreement. | Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said Britain needs a "robust deal" for staying in the EU, which will only be decided when heads of government meet on Thursday to finalise an agreement. |
| "There are still a lot of moving parts in this discussion," Mr Hammond told the Andrew Marr Show. | "There are still a lot of moving parts in this discussion," Mr Hammond told the Andrew Marr Show. |
| He said a draft deal contained "unclear language" and "square brackets". | He said a draft deal contained "unclear language" and "square brackets". |
| The final agreement should provide "clear winds for Britain on national sovereignty", he said. | The final agreement should provide "clear winds for Britain on national sovereignty", he said. |
| Mr Hammond said that in talks over benefits for migrants "we've got a recognition that there can be different treatment [to British nationals] for four years". | Mr Hammond said that in talks over benefits for migrants "we've got a recognition that there can be different treatment [to British nationals] for four years". |
| In so doing, Britain had succeeded in "challenging one of the sacred cows of EU ideology". | |
| "And it's important to us that we are talking about how we are treating them differently rather than whether we can treat them differently," he said. | |
| EU referendum: US wants 'strong UK in strong EU' | EU referendum: US wants 'strong UK in strong EU' |
| Guide: All you need to know about the referendum | Guide: All you need to know about the referendum |
| He said the government was "still arguing" that treaty change would be the best way of cementing a new relationship with the EU. | He said the government was "still arguing" that treaty change would be the best way of cementing a new relationship with the EU. |
| But Mr Hammond said it was not essential, if European heads of government signed a binding agreement. | But Mr Hammond said it was not essential, if European heads of government signed a binding agreement. |
| "Even if treaty change is agreed, it will be years before that treaty change comes into force," he said. "And once this [deal on Thursday] is agreed we need to see it implemented as soon as possible." | "Even if treaty change is agreed, it will be years before that treaty change comes into force," he said. "And once this [deal on Thursday] is agreed we need to see it implemented as soon as possible." |
| Russia accused over Syria | Russia accused over Syria |
| Asked about Syria, Mr Hammond said the situation in the city of Aleppo was "extremely worrying". | Asked about Syria, Mr Hammond said the situation in the city of Aleppo was "extremely worrying". |
| He accused Russia of "carpet bombing" and carrying out "indiscriminate bombing" of civilian areas. | He accused Russia of "carpet bombing" and carrying out "indiscriminate bombing" of civilian areas. |
| Russia denies hitting civilians and has said it will continue its air attacks, which it says target only "terrorists". | |
| On the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Mr Hammond said the key question was "whether the Russians are prepared to use their influence to remove him". | On the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Mr Hammond said the key question was "whether the Russians are prepared to use their influence to remove him". |
| He said Russian air strikes were causing "attrition" among rebel groups but that the conflict overall was in "a bit of a stalemate". | He said Russian air strikes were causing "attrition" among rebel groups but that the conflict overall was in "a bit of a stalemate". |
| Russian air power was forcing opposition forces to give ground but the Syrian government was unable to take and hold that territory, he added. | Russian air power was forcing opposition forces to give ground but the Syrian government was unable to take and hold that territory, he added. |
| Mr Hammond said the number of "moderate" opposition fighters now stood at 150,000. | Mr Hammond said the number of "moderate" opposition fighters now stood at 150,000. |
| "I wouldn't call them democratic," he said. | "I wouldn't call them democratic," he said. |
| Russia has said other countries should join it in backing the Syrian government. | |
| Mr Hammond's comments come after three days of talks among foreign ministers in Munich about prospects for peace in Syria. | |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says that with President Assad and three mainstream rebel groups all vowing to carry on fighting, talks are "in practice, back where they started". |