Cleric calls for international pressure on Assad regime

Sheikh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi has called for more international pressure on the Syrian regime after forces renewed their crackdown on protesters.

Activists say there have been operations in Deir al-Zour in the east and Kahn Sheikhun in the north.

Sheikh al-Yaqoubi was the Friday speaker in the al-Hassan Mosque in Damascus before he was removed from his post after openly criticising the ruling Baath party and calling for progressive reforms in Syria. He was speaking to BBC World from the English city of Birmingham.