Boris Johnson: 'Syria civil war shames humanity'
Boris Johnson has backed proposals by Syrian opposition figures to remove President Bashar Assad and establish a transitional government.
The Foreign Secretary also rued the country's brutal civil war on Wednesday, saying that it "shames humanity".
He also insisted international efforts be made to allow an opposition peace plan to proceed and end the bloody conflict.
Speaking at the Foreign Office, Mr Johnson endorsed new proposals put forward by the Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee.
He described the committee as representing "a future for Syria that goes beyond the Assad regime".
Syria's civil war has raged since March 2011 and cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
In a bid to end the bloodshed, Mr Johnson endorsed the HNC's newest plan for peace
Mr Johnson described it as a "formidably important document" which represents "a vision and plan for Syria that is democratic, pluralistic, that will take that country forward".
The HNC, an umbrella organisation, wants an initial six-month negotiating phase between the regime and the opposition - including a total ceasefire.
President Assad would then be removed from power and a transitional government made up of opposition figures and current government put in place for 18 months.
Earlier, Mr Johnson called on Russia to end its "seemingly indefensible" support for Syrian president Assad's "killing machine" and to work with the United States to help create a ceasefire so the HNC plan can proceed.