Syria situation 'desperate'

The UK government is doing everything it "possibly can" to secure the safe return of foreign journalists trapped in the Syrian city of Homs, says International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell.

Mr. Mitchell called on the regime to allow aid agencies "unfettered access" to the besieged city, in particular the neighbourhood of Baba Amr where shelling has been most intense, to be able provide humanitarian assistance to its citizens.

Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show, he voiced frustration that the international community is not "speaking with one voice" to resolve the fighting and highlighted Russia's veto of a UN resolution condemning the crackdown on anti-government protests.

Mr. Mitchell warned that the Syrian government must be held to account for the "despicable" human rights abuses being committed and described Syria's government as an "evil regime which has turned its guns on its own people".

You can watch The Andrew Marr Show in full on the BBC iPlayer