Syria crisis: China hosts Assad aide

China is preparing to host an envoy from Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, and is signalling it may also receive members of the opposition.

The diplomatic development comes as the fighting in Syria appears to have reached a new level of intensity.

Rebels say they can now fight attacks from the air after shooting down a jet and capturing the pilot - a claim the government denies.

Susana Mendonsa reports.