Syria’s devastating conflict entered its third year with no agreement among EU leaders on British and French calls for an easing of the bloc’s embargo to allow arms supplies to the rebels.

At least 13 people have died in a clash between Syrian troops and armed men believed to be military defectors, activists say.

Thousands of Syrians defied an unrelenting government crackdown and flooded the streets across the country to buttress their two-month uprising against the country’s authoritarian regime.

Syrian security forces opened fire on protesters around the country today, activists said.