Syrian president Bashar Assad has insisted his regime will not fall and also lashed out at Gulf countries, which he accused of using their enormous oil wealth to try to drive him from power.

Syria's two largest opposition groups have signed an agreement on setting up a democracy after President Bashar Assad's regime falls, opposition figures said today.

Supporters of President Bashar Assad stoned the convoy of the US ambassador to Syria as he arrived for a meeting with a leading opposition figure today.