Britain - Feb 13, 2012 - 11:55

Britain will have urgent discussions with the Arab League over the group's proposal for a joint peacekeeping force with the United Nations in Syria, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday.

Hague also welcomed the Arab League's decision at a meeting in Cairo on Sunday to endorse a "Friends of Syria" group, including Britain, which will meet in Tunisia on February 24.

"Such a mission could have an important role to play in saving lives, providing the Assad regime ends the violence against civilians, withdraws its forces from towns and cities and establishes a credible ceasefire."

Hague said Britain would play a "very active part" in the Friends of Syria group, which has similarities to the Libya contact group formed by international partners against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. [AFP]