G20 ‘divided’ on Syria, Russia accused of holding ‘council hostage’

G20 leaders remain divided over the Syrian conflict as they enter the final day of their Russian summit. The splits were confirmed by both Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta and US envoy to the United Nations Samantha Power.

With Russia insisting that a US strike on Syria would "drive another nail into the coffin of international law" and backed by China in refusing to agree to a Security Council resolution against Syria, insist any action without the UN would be illegal.

The US and France are the only two at the G20 to commit to using force in Syria.

Power accused Russia of holding the Security Council hostage by blocking resolutions and said the Security Council was no longer a "viable path" for holding Syria accountable for war crimes.

US President Barack Obama is thought to be trying at the G20 summit to build an international coalition to back strikes against military targets in Syria.

But differences of opinion became obvious when world leaders - including Mr Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin - discussed Syria over dinner on Thursday evening.

The Italian prime minister said in a tweet that "the G20 has just now finished the dinner session, at which the divisions about Syria were confirmed".

President Putin's press spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said after the dinner that the G20 was split down the middle, with some countries seeking hasty action and others wanting the US to go through the UN Security Council.

Meanwhile, Britain has urged countries to dig deep to meet the UN's appeal for £900m for Syria and £1.9bn for neighbouring countries this year. British Prime Minister David Cameron announced an addition £52m in aid, bringing Britain's total aid contribution to the Syria crisis to £400m.