David Cameron makes fresh diplomatic push on Syria

David Cameron is to make a renewed push for a diplomatic settlement and increased humanitarian aid related to the conflict in Syria after his attempt to mount military strikes on the Assad regime was rejected by MPs.

Mr Cameron told his cabinet he would use this week’s G20 summit in St Petersburg to promote renewed diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in the region, after parliament tied his hands on the use of military force.

Downing Street said on Tuesday that last week’s Commons rejection of UK military intervention in Syria did not exclude the possibility that Britain might provide arms to opposition forces, subject to another parliamentary vote.

The issue resurfaced at Westminster after Barack Obama spoke of a broader US strategy “that will allow us to upgrade the capabilities of the opposition” but Mr Cameron’s allies do not expect Britain to ship arms to Syria.

Many Conservative MPs fear the policy could lead to arms falling into the hands of al-Qaeda and Mr Cameron is unlikely to risk another Commons defeat. “Why don’t we just save money on the postage and blow ourselves up?” asked one Tory MP.

Mr Cameron’s military paralysis and new emphasis on diplomacy and aid may receive short shrift from Vladimir Putin, Russian president, the G20 chair. British ministers admit that Mr Putin may “make hay” with Mr Cameron’s discomfort.

But in a sign of fresh thinking in London, William Hague, foreign secretary, said he hoped to meet his new Iranian counterpart, Mohammed-Javad Zarif, soon to see whether Tehran’s new centrist government could help to broker a peace deal.

Mr Hague told the Commons he remained sceptical about Iran having a place at the table of any “Geneva II” peace negotiations, but said Tehran was potentially a key player.

“The chances would be enhanced not necessarily by Iran being involved, but by Iran playing a constructive role in trying to bring about a settlement at such a peace conference,” he said.

But he added: “Iran has been actively engaged in assisting widespread murder by the Assad regime and has not so far expressed its support for the outcome of the first conference in Geneva – the creation of a transitional government – let alone contributed to a second conference in Geneva.”

Meanwhile, Mr Hague dismissed reports that Barack Obama’s plan to attack Syria in reprisal for the assumed chemical weapons attack on August 21 would be more extensive than previously thought.

“President Obama is very clear that any action proposed by the US would be to deter the further use of chemical weapons,” he said. “I think we can take him at his word on that.”

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2013.