Egypt calls on Assad allies to pressure him to go

With UN initiatives mired in impotence over the Syrian crisis, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is pursuing his own diplomatic push. He has already suggested 4-way talks with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran. Now he is setting out to win over China who with Russia oppose calls to end President Assad’s rule .

“ We are asking the free world and these countries, to support the Syrian people’s movement and help them to achieve their goals and to remove this regime from the Syrian people.”

Refugees fleeing the fighting is also causing concern. Turkey is scrambling to erect more shelters with the number having doubled in the last to months to over 80,000.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is clear there is a limit as to how many can be taken in.

“The rising number of refugees brings a certain load. This burden has to be shared with the international community.”

More than 200,000 Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries since the start of the conflict. Turkey which is housing the biggest number is to press the UN to create a “safe zone” inside Syria and to help out financially.

More about: Armed conflicts, Diplomatic mission, Egypt, Mohamed Mursi, Syria

Copyright © 2013 euronews