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William Hague warns Syria is facing civil war William Hague warns Syria is facing civil war
(40 minutes later)
William Hague has warned Syria is sliding into all-out civil war and there is a "desperate need for a political solution".William Hague has warned Syria is sliding into all-out civil war and there is a "desperate need for a political solution".
The British foreign secretary was speaking after meeting Syrian opposition leaders in Istanbul.The British foreign secretary was speaking after meeting Syrian opposition leaders in Istanbul.
Earlier, he said the situation was so grave that a military response could not be ruled out.Earlier, he said the situation was so grave that a military response could not be ruled out.
But he stressed a peace plan devised by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan remained "much the best option".But he stressed a peace plan devised by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan remained "much the best option".
Mr Hague stressed the need to support the UN process, even though it had so far failed to stop the bloodshed.Mr Hague stressed the need to support the UN process, even though it had so far failed to stop the bloodshed.
"We are on the edge of a very vicious civil war... and so time is urgent," he told BBC News."We are on the edge of a very vicious civil war... and so time is urgent," he told BBC News.
"We are not at the moment considering action outside the United Nations," he added, but he suggested the situation was under constant review."We are not at the moment considering action outside the United Nations," he added, but he suggested the situation was under constant review.
He also urged countries outside the EU to consider sanctions against the President Bashar Assad's regime and said he was pushing Russia to use its leverage to ensure the Assad government implemented the Annan plan.He also urged countries outside the EU to consider sanctions against the President Bashar Assad's regime and said he was pushing Russia to use its leverage to ensure the Assad government implemented the Annan plan.
'Sickening murders''Sickening murders'
Speaking from Istanbul, where he also met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Mr Hague said he had sought agreement on how the international community could help forces opposed to President Assad.Speaking from Istanbul, where he also met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Mr Hague said he had sought agreement on how the international community could help forces opposed to President Assad.
He said the meetings, which also included talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, were "timely in the light of the sickening murders at Houla and other parts of Syria in recent days".He said the meetings, which also included talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, were "timely in the light of the sickening murders at Houla and other parts of Syria in recent days".
He said they had discussed the "desperate need for a political solution in Syria" and the importance of implementing the Annan plan in full.He said they had discussed the "desperate need for a political solution in Syria" and the importance of implementing the Annan plan in full.
They also talked about what more the UK and others could to "help Syria's opposition become a credible and effective alternative to President Assad's murderous regime".They also talked about what more the UK and others could to "help Syria's opposition become a credible and effective alternative to President Assad's murderous regime".
Mr Hague has suggested supplying arms to rebel groups in Syria could be one option.Mr Hague has suggested supplying arms to rebel groups in Syria could be one option.
The UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, has told an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council last week's killing of more than 100 civilians at Houla may amount to crimes against humanity.The UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, has told an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council last week's killing of more than 100 civilians at Houla may amount to crimes against humanity.
'Not ruling anything out'
In a statement, Mr Hague said he believed "the acts committed by the Syrian regime may amount to crimes against humanity".
He called for a "special and independent investigation" into the killings in Houla and said Britain would support evidence gathering with a view to referring the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.
Earlier, amid reports of another mass killing by pro-government militias and increasing pressure for outside intervention, Mr Hague said a military response could not be ruled out.Earlier, amid reports of another mass killing by pro-government militias and increasing pressure for outside intervention, Mr Hague said a military response could not be ruled out.
"We are not ruling anything out," he told BBC Radio 4's Today."We are not ruling anything out," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
"But a military intervention in Syria, as I have always pointed out, would have to be on a vastly greater scale than was the case in Libya and it would have to enjoy broad international support."But a military intervention in Syria, as I have always pointed out, would have to be on a vastly greater scale than was the case in Libya and it would have to enjoy broad international support.
"So we are not at that stage at this point now.""So we are not at that stage at this point now."