Cameron: 'We haven't made decision to arm Syrian rebels'

Prime Minister David Cameron has said that a decision to arm Syria rebels has not been made and said that there are more alternatives to Assad than "extremist terrorists".

The leaders of the G8 nations are to begin a summit in Northern Ireland, with Syria's conflict set to dominate.

Following a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Sunday, Mr Cameron said it was no secret he and the Russian president had disagreements over Syria, but that they shared a common aim - to end the conflict.

Mr Cameron told reporters at Lough Erne that all sides wanted to see the establishment of a peace process in Syria, and said it was right that the West should be "helping, assisting and advising" the opposition.

"We shouldn't accept what President Assad wants us to accept which is the only alternative to him is extremist terrorism. That isn't the case. That is insulting to the millions of Syrians who want a peaceful democratic future for their country and it's their side that we should be on," he told the BBC's Nick Robinson.