Live Blog #Syria: British Foreign Secretary Hague says it is too early to formally recognise the Syrian opposition

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Live Blog #Syria: British Foreign Secretary Hague says it is too early to formally recognise the Syrian opposition aje.me/jlCqCU

Protesting against President Bashar al-Assad after Friday Prayer in the Syrian city of Idlib [Reuters]

People continue to take to the streets across Syria despite the government's crackdown on protests. Reports say thousands have been killed since the demonstrations started in March 2011, on both sides.

We bring you the latest news from various sources.

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16 min 46 sec ago - Syria

Representatives from the Syrian opposition met British Foreign Secretary William Hague for the first time in London on Monday although he said it was too early for Britain to formally recognise them.

We're not at the point of a formal recognition of them, I have appointed  an ambassador-designate to conduct relations with them, but we are not at a point of formal recognition, partly because there are differing groups. They're not in control of territory as the council in Libya were and the international community has not yet reached that point.

 We've imposed several rounds of sanctions and we're working this week on a further round of sanctions which I hope we can agree next week.

 We are not contemplating or advocating military action in Syria in the style of what we did in Libya," he said.

Tags Bashar al Assad, William Hague

3 hours 8 min ago - Damascus

AP - The commander of a group of Syrian army defectors retracted earlier claims that his followers launched an unprecedented attack inside the capital, Damascus, in an embarrassing turnaround for an armed movement trying
to oust President Bashar Assad's regime.

Riad al-Asaad, a Turkey-based air force colonel who heads the Free Syrian Army, said in a video posted on the group's Facebook page Sunday evening that Assad's government was trying to tarnish the image of the revolution.

"We did not target the party building in Damascus and we will not target any civilian installation,'' said al-Asaad, who was wearing his military uniform.

But al-Asaad did not address why his group had claimed responsibility for the attack hours after Damascus residents reported hearing two loud blasts before dawn Sunday.

In a Facebook posting  - which had been removed by Monday morning  - the FSA had said it fired rocket-propelled grenades at the headquarters of Syria's ruling Baath party.

There were no apparent damage or injuries.