The United States and Germany are to press for further action by the United Nations Security Council against the Syrian authorities.

But Syria's opposition is notoriously fragmented, and internationally, questions have been asked whether a cohesive group can emerge and unite the many contrasting political and religious ideologies if the Assad regime were to crumble.

The Syrian National Council is becoming the most prominent and inclusive of these groups but is still searching for the international recognition that was bestowed on the opposition in Libya and Tunisia.

Its exiled leadership is based in Paris, from where our correspondent Christian Fraser sent this report