Angry exchanges as Syria peace conference starts

The Syrian regime and opposition representatives have delivered strongly worded statements at the start of Geneva II Syrian peace conference in Switzerland.

In an often angry opening speech, Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said some states attending the talks had "Syrian blood on their hands" and were trying to destabilise the country.

The head of the the National Coalition, Ahmad Jarba, said that it had not been the opposition's choice to take up arms, but "was the choice imposed by the Syrian regime".