Britain vows more aid to Syrian people, diplomatic pressure on regime

The British government pledged Tuesday to offer more relief aid to Syrian people and to increase diplomatic pressure on the regime to secure a solution to the 30 month-long crisis. Addressing a parliamentary session, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Prime Minister David Cameron will hold a number of meetings with several world leaders on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg G-20 Summit, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, to push for a diplomatic solution to the Syrian conflict. At the forefront of those leaders will be Russian President Vladimir Putin, a very close ally to Syrian Bashar Al-Assad's regime, said Hague, adding that Cameron will try to persuade Putin to stop support to the Syrian regime. Hague revealed that Head of the Syrian National Coalition, the umbrella opposition group, Ahmad Al-Jarba will visit London on Thursday to discuss increasing humanitarian aid to Syrian people as well as the preparation for Geneva II conference. He strongly criticized the Syrian regime's for denying humanitarian aid access to Syrian people, considering this practice a criminal act. As for the expected US-led military intervention in Syria, Hague said he predicts it to be limited and wide-scale offensive.