Britain warns Assad peace plan delay may boost funding for his foes

Britain said on Sunday that foot dragging by President Bashar al-Assad over a United Nations-Arab League peace plan for Syria will trigger fresh pressure on him at the UN Security Council and possibly increase foreign governments' financing of the Syrian opposition.

Foreign Secretary William Hague issued the warning to Assad in comments to journalists before joining a "Friends of Syria" conference, that has brought together 75 countries, mostly Western and Arab states, in Istanbul. (Reuters)