World powers gather for Syrian talks

The so called "Action Group" comprised of the UN Security Council's foreign ministers, key Arab countries, and Syria's neighbors, are meeting this weekend to try and revive a stalled six point peace plan and work on a political transition for the country. 

Arriving at the UN Headquarters in Geneva, Kofi Annan remains positive about this meeting.

 
Annan said, "We're going to have a good meeting tomorrow. I am optimistic."

 
The "Action group" meeting comes as the violence in Syria seems to be spiraling out of control. Estimates put the number of dead in the last 48 hours at around 250.
 
The foreign ministers of the US, Russia, China, the UK and France will be joined by The Arab league and the United Nations plus key states Turkey, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait to consider how to revive a never implemented peace plan, that calls for a government of National Unity. An early draft of the plan calls for the exclusion of any parties which would undermine that process.

 
To the Western powers that means that President Assad could not be part of that process. In an interview with Iranian TV, the Syrian President rejected outside interference in his country - and Moscow agrees saying a political solution cannot be imposed from outside. Asked whether he would run for elections scheduled in two years, the Syrian president said it’s too early to say. 

 
 Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad said, "When an official feels that the nation loves him or supports him to accept the responsibility, then he would run for elections. For the time being, it's early to talk about this matter two years ahead of the elections"

But even without outside pressure, the government is being shaken more and more - witness this latest blast outside Syria's highest court in Downtown Damascus.