UK Foreign Secretary William Hague meets with the new Syrian opposition coalition on Friday.<br/> <br />The fledgling Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces hopes to boost their chances of securing international recognition and weapons.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) UK FOREIGN SECRETARY, WILLIAM HAGUE, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I'm further encouraged by the discussions that I've had with them this morning. It is important of course and I have stressed to them, that they respect minority rights, that they are inclusive of all communities in Syria, committed to a democratic future for the people of Syria."<br/> <br />On Tuesday France became the first European power to recognise the new Syrian coalition, led by moderate Sunni Muslim cleric Mouaz Alkhatib.<br/> <br />But Hague said he wanted the group to address his concerns before formal recognition.<br/> <br />Back in Syria, amateur video shows the aftermath of fierce fighting in the border town of Ras al-Ain.<br/> <br />Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's air force has been bombing the town for days, trying to dislodge anti-Assad rebels who overran the town last week.<br/> <br />The assault has brought the war perilously close once again to Turkish soil, testing a promise by Ankara to defend its border.
