Syrian regime 'unsustainable', says French foreign minister

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's closest associates are "beginning to understand that the regime is unsustainable", the French foreign minister has said.

Laurent Fabius was speaking at the Friends of Syria meeting in Paris after one of Mr Assad's close friends fled Damascus.

Brig Gen Manaf Tlas, a commander in the Republican Guard, left Syria via Turkey, his family confirmed.

Mr Fabius also reiterated France's call for President Assad to go at the talks in Paris.