Dubai: The United States and GCC countries yesterday urged envoy Kofi Annan to produce a "timeline for next steps" in his peace plan for Syria if President Bashar Al Assad fails to stop the bloodshed.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who met her counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Oman in Riyadh, voiced concern over Syria's continued deadly crackdown on protesters.
She also slammed Iran for its alleged support for the crackdown on the eve of an international conference.
Clinton said dozens of top Arab and Western officials today would discuss further steps to pressure Al Assad, to provide humanitarian aid and promote "an inclusive, democratic" political transition.
Expectations are low that today's international conference in Istanbul will have much impact on the crisis, as discord among the so-called "Friends of Syria" outweighs their agreements.
More than 70 representatives from Western and Arab countries will gather to craft a solution aimed at halting the killing.
Meanwhile, Syrian opposition leader Burhan Galioun said the conference must back the arming of rebels.
"The Syrian National Council expresses the demands of the Syrian people," Galioun told the press.
Clinton voiced renewed scepticism about Syria's acceptance of Annan's six-point peace plan, which calls on Syrian forces to withdraw from besieged cities and silence their guns.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal renewed calls to arm the Syrian opposition, describing it as a "duty".
iran threat
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the United States seeks improved strategies with Arab Gulf states on maritime security and missile defence to counter the threat of Iran.
Clinton says the US and Gulf governments share concerns about Iran's nuclear activity and interference in the affairs of Arab countries. She is telling them that partnership with the US has "enormous potential" to advance common interests.
Clinton spoke yesterday at a security conference in Saudi Arabia. She said US commitment to the Gulf is "rock-solid and unwavering."
