Syria: Hillary Clinton calls for full transfer of power as Assad regime denies massacre

Mrs Clinton stressed that in the meantime countries in a group of "Friends of the Syrian People" were looking at ways of tightening sanctions against the regime and adding new measures with an eye to peeling away domestic support for Assad.

Countries that provide assistance to the Syrian opposition also agreed to convene a meeting of their experts with opposition representatives in Istanbul at mid month to better coordinate the assistance.

The participants, mainly Arab and European foreign ministers, met here against the backdrop of fresh reports of massacres in Syrias and growing fears of a descent into a destabilising civil war.

They discussed calls made by some countries for invoking Chapter VII of the UN charter, which authorises member states to take "all necessary measures" to carry out UN Security Council decisions.

"The secretary made clear Chapter VII remains on the table at the appropriate time," the official said, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity.

The official portrayed the secretary's presentation as an attempt to lay out a "common vision" that can unite the international community on action toward Syria in the period ahead.

It was expected to be taken up in debate Thursday at the United Nations when the Security Council meets to hear special envoy Kofi Mr Annan's report on his efforts to salvage a battered peace plan for Syria.

Vehement opposition from Russia and China, however, has so far blocked action at the UN Security Council despite rising condemnation over massacres of civilians by forces loyal to the regime.

Mrs Clinton is sending her special representative on Syria, Fred Hoff, to Moscow on Thursday to sound out the Russians, the official said.

"She made clear that we want to work with Russia, but that we've got to have a common vision," the official said.

Source: AFP