Hague uncertain World Powers could reach deal on Syria

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Saturday he was uncertain that world powers could reach a power transition deal to halt the bloodshed in Syria, as Russia and China remain opposed. "We haven't reached agreement in advance with Russia and China. That remains very difficult and whether it will be possible, I don't know if this will be possible," he told reporters on arriving at the United Nations in Geneva for talks on the crisis hosted by international envoy Kofi Annan. Hague stressed that "a stable future for Syria means (President Bashar al-Assad) leaving power." Saturday's meeting includes foreign ministers of the five permanent Security Council states the US, Russia, Britain, China and France, as well as regional powers Qatar, Turkey, Kuwait and Iraq. Hague said that despite the difficulties, world powers would try to reach a deal Saturday: "In the interests of saving thousands of lives and of our international responsibilities, we will try to do so." "There will be no point signing up to a worthless agreement or one that does not advance the situation so we go into it with that spirit today," he said. He also called on parties to agree on applying sanctions under Chapter 7 of the Security Council resolution if Syria failed to apply Annan's peace plan. "In our view there should be a Chapter 7 resolution of the Security Council mandating and requiring the implementation of that plan with consequences if it is not implemented. "But we can only do that with the cooperation of the Russians and the Chinese," he added.