Red Cross allowed into Syrian prisons

The authorities in Syria have agreed to open prisons to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The president of the ICRC, Jakob Kellenberger, has been meeting Syrian officials in Damascus.

He said the Red Cross had been given access to people detained by the Ministry of the Interior and would, hopefully, soon be able to visit all detainees.

Carla Haddad Mardini, spokesperson for the committee, said Mr Kellenberger had spoken to the Syrian president about getting more access.