Syria remains top of the agenda for G8 foreign ministers currently gathering in Britain, Foreign Secretary William Hague said.

Mr Hague is hosting a meeting of international leaders in London, which is a preliminary gathering ahead of the flagship G8 meeting in Northern Ireland later this year.

Mr Hague said last night: "This is about preventing conflict, resolving conflict, dealing with its consequences – that means top of the agenda will be dealing with the situation in Syria, which continues to get worse."

The Foreign Secretary also said delegates would be discussing North Korea.