Syria: William Hague condemns 'criminal' Assad regime

A major conference is being held in Tunisia to seek a breakthrough in the increasingly bitter Syrian unrest.

The US, Europe and Arab countries plan to challenge President Bashar al-Assad to provide humanitarian access within days to the worst-affected areas.

But Russia and China, key allies of Syria which have blocked UN resolutions against Damascus, are not attending the "Friends of Syria" conference.

The British Foreign Secretary William Hague, stressed the importance of the talks to "intensify the diplomatic and economic pressure on the Assad regime".