Syria envoy still at sticking point

The international mediator for Syria meets the head of the Arab League in Cairo to discuss the 21-month-old conflict that has engulfed Syria.

Lakhdar Brahimi warned of dire consequences if the warring sides refused to engage in talks.

Brahimi said tens of thousands more could die if a political solution is not found, and highlighted the refusal to negotiate as a key problem.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERNATIONAL ENVOY TO SYRIA, LAKHDAR BRAHIMI:

"This is the problem. The problem is that both sides are not speaking to one another, are speaking across of one another. And this is where help is needed from outside to make sure that we, everybody speaks about the same thing."

Efforts to find a negotiated solution to the bloody conflict that has killed some 45,000 people have floundered.

The opposition, buoyed by recent rebel military advances, are demanding that Assad be excluded from power before any talks can proceed.