G8 Summit: Cameron Urges Unity Over Syria

David Cameron was today hoping for a show of unity over Syria from the world's most powerful nations after a late-night showdown at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland.

Western nations last night faced down Russian president Vladimir Putin at a summit dinner over his support for the regime of dictator Bashar Assad.

Downing Street welcomed a "very positive" response from the Russian leader, reviving hopes for a peace conference to pave the way for a political transition in the war-torn Middle Eastern state.

While nobody at the summit was in any doubt about  the continuing differences between Moscow and the West, sources suggested Mr Putin was ready to sign up to five key principles discussed at last night's dinner.

The five points include support for  a transitional authority that will command the support of all Syria's communities - effectively ruling out a place for Assad.

David Cameron is banking on the support of Barack Obama over Syria

Tension over Syria has dominated the annual gathering of world leaders, which comes days after president Barack Obama suggested the US may send weapons to opposition forces.

Mr Putin has set himself firmly against any Western supply of arms, warning that they could end up in the hands of extremists opposed to European values, who "eat the organs" of their enemies. He has also said he is ready to supply Assad with anti-aircraft missiles.

Mr Cameron put Syria top of the agenda at last night's summit dinner with the aim of restoring momentum towards a proposed peace conference in Geneva.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister regarded the dinner, at the Lough Erne golfing resort near Enniskillen, as "an opportunity for a clarifying moment on Syria".

The PM is understood to want a clear statement of intent in the final summit communique this afternoon.

British officials last night said he was ready to go ahead with a statement with or without Russian agreement - but signals were that Mr Putin was ready to sign up.

The Russian and American presidents met  for face-to-face talks which are thought to have focused on Syria.

Mr Obama acknowledged the pair had "differing perspectives" but had a shared interest in reducing the violence and preventing the use of chemical weapons.

Mr Cameron also today hopes to secure agreement on action to block the payment of ransoms to terrorist kidnappers, as well as an international initiative to tackle tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance by sharing information between tax authorities.

But campaigners raised concerns that any agreement on tax information-sharing may be confined only to the rich world, leaving out the developing countries which miss out on billions in tax revenues because of individuals and companies secreting their wealth in offshore bolt-holes.

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