Arab League offers Assad safe exit

The Arab League's secretary general has offered Syrian president Bashar Assad a "safe exit" for him and his family if he steps down.

Nabil Elaraby gave no further details on his proposal at an Arab League foreign ministers' meeting in Doha, Qatar, early today.

The League also promised £64 million for Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries.

Tunisian president Moncef Marzouki also offered Assad asylum in February if it would end the conflict.

Assad has shown little inclination to step down. On Sunday, his forces attacked remaining rebel pockets of resistance in the capital Damascus.

In his first public statements since a devastating rebel bombing wiped out his top security officers, Assad told his new army chief of staff on Sunday to "continue the armed forces' pursuit of terrorists".