Syria and UN role: David Mellor and Mark Malloch-Brown

Former Cabinet Minister David Mellor, who served in the Foreign Office, said the UN Security Council could 'become impotent' if all members did not agree on action in Syria.

But he doubted the UK could take play a part in military action.

Mark Malloch-Brown, former UN Deputy Secretary General and Labour Foreign Officer minister, said the fighting was "reaching a peak" and a negotiated solution which removed President Assad was the only option to a civil war.

He said arming the rebels was a "very bad second choice but inevitable if diplomacy fails".

They spoke after Daily Politics film about the UN and Syria

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