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| David Cameron vows to work with Obama to end Syria violence | David Cameron vows to work with Obama to end Syria violence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron has vowed to work with the newly re-elected US president, Barack Obama, to find ways to end the bloodshed in Syria, after hearing "horrendous" stories of suffering from refugees at a camp in Jordan. | |
| The prime minister said his resolve to force Bashar al-Assad from power had been strengthened by the visit to the border region, where tens of thousands of fleeing Syrians are living at the vast UN-run compound. | |
| British humanitarian aid for the crisis would be increased by £14m, he said, after being taken to an area of the border where up to 500 people are arriving every day. | |
| Diplomatic talks are also planned between the UK's special envoy to the Syrian opposition, John Wilkes, and rebel military chiefs in an effort to "help shape the opposition", he said. | Diplomatic talks are also planned between the UK's special envoy to the Syrian opposition, John Wilkes, and rebel military chiefs in an effort to "help shape the opposition", he said. |
| Cameron was in Syria on the final leg of a three-day Middle East tour and is believed to be the first G20 leader to visit the Za'atri camp. | Cameron was in Syria on the final leg of a three-day Middle East tour and is believed to be the first G20 leader to visit the Za'atri camp. |
| "I wanted to hear for myself the stories of people who have been bombed and shot and blasted out of their homes in Syria by a deeply illegitimate and unpleasant regime that is raining down death and destruction on its own people," he said. | "I wanted to hear for myself the stories of people who have been bombed and shot and blasted out of their homes in Syria by a deeply illegitimate and unpleasant regime that is raining down death and destruction on its own people," he said. |
| "It is truly horrendous to hear those stories and just redoubles my determination that now, with a newly elected American president, we have got to do more to help this part of the world, to help Syria achieve transition." | "It is truly horrendous to hear those stories and just redoubles my determination that now, with a newly elected American president, we have got to do more to help this part of the world, to help Syria achieve transition." |
| Cameron travelled by helicopter to a valley dominated by the al-Wahdah dam, which is one of the busiest crossing points and was recently hit by Syrian shells. | Cameron travelled by helicopter to a valley dominated by the al-Wahdah dam, which is one of the busiest crossing points and was recently hit by Syrian shells. |
| Some of those arriving seeking shelter in Jordan had walked for up to 15 days to reach the border, he was told by the local Jordanian military chief. At the camp, he met some of those recently arrived in the country and was treated to a patriotic Syrian song by young girls at one of the classroom tents set up for the many children living there. | Some of those arriving seeking shelter in Jordan had walked for up to 15 days to reach the border, he was told by the local Jordanian military chief. At the camp, he met some of those recently arrived in the country and was treated to a patriotic Syrian song by young girls at one of the classroom tents set up for the many children living there. |
| Cameron told them: "You are not just missed in Syria. All of the world wants to help you, including my country." | Cameron told them: "You are not just missed in Syria. All of the world wants to help you, including my country." |
| Speaking about attempts to set up talks with the rebel military leaders, he said: "There is an opportunity for Britain, for America, for Saudi Arabia, Jordan and like-minded allies to come together and try to help shape the opposition, outside Syria and inside Syria, and try to help them achieve their goal, which is our goal of a Syria without Assad." | |
| The latest moves are a recognition that events are increasingly dictated by the military figures and not the splintered political groupings, who met in Qatar this week in an effort to forge an alliance against Assad. | The latest moves are a recognition that events are increasingly dictated by the military figures and not the splintered political groupings, who met in Qatar this week in an effort to forge an alliance against Assad. |
| And there is mounting concern that extremists are gaining a major influence inside opposition forces. | And there is mounting concern that extremists are gaining a major influence inside opposition forces. |
| Cameron left open again the possibility that the president could be allowed to flee the country voluntarily to a state where he could evade any criminal charges against him over the slaughter that has killed upwards of 30,000 people so far. | Cameron left open again the possibility that the president could be allowed to flee the country voluntarily to a state where he could evade any criminal charges against him over the slaughter that has killed upwards of 30,000 people so far. |
| "I would like to see [Assad] face justice but, frankly, any option that involves him leaving the country and a transition taking place would be good for the people right behind me here," the prime minister said. | "I would like to see [Assad] face justice but, frankly, any option that involves him leaving the country and a transition taking place would be good for the people right behind me here," the prime minister said. |
| At present, 2.5 million people inside Syria need humanitarian assistance and the number of refugees in the surrounding region is predicted to almost double to 710,000 by the end of the year. That could mean a quarter of a million alone in Jordan. | At present, 2.5 million people inside Syria need humanitarian assistance and the number of refugees in the surrounding region is predicted to almost double to 710,000 by the end of the year. That could mean a quarter of a million alone in Jordan. |
| Of the new aid, £9.5m will go on blankets, soap and food for those forced out of their homes within Syria and on emergency help for the 8,300 Palestinian refugees based in Syria. | Of the new aid, £9.5m will go on blankets, soap and food for those forced out of their homes within Syria and on emergency help for the 8,300 Palestinian refugees based in Syria. |
| The rest – taking total UK aid to ease the crisis to £53.5m – will be used to help those who have fled to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey – including for safe transport from the border to the camps where they are being housed. | The rest – taking total UK aid to ease the crisis to £53.5m – will be used to help those who have fled to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey – including for safe transport from the border to the camps where they are being housed. |
| Cameron will fly back to the UK after talks with the King of Jordan and the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, but will not arrive in time for prime minister's questions in the Commons. |