Syrian crisis at 'critical situation'

French Foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Monday warned Syrian civil war was "at a critical situation", urging western and Arab allies to energise "essential" diplomatic efforts to end the crisis.

"The Syrian crisis is at a critical situation and we need to re-initiate peace efforts. The mobilization of the international community is essential," Ayrault said.

At a meeting with ministers from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Britain, as well as with Riad Hijab, head of the main Syrian opposition group High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the French top diplomat expressed hope Syrian peace talks could resume.

After escalating fighting in Aleppo, Syria's largest city seized by Islamist rebels, participants at Paris meeting aim to "silence the guns, except against terrorist groups recognized as such by the United Nations", according to the French official.

Source: XINHUA