A coalition of Western and Middle East powers warned yesterday that they would seek tougher international action if Bashar Al Assad’s regime continues to flout the UN peace plan.

The warning came as Syria and the UN signed an agreement on terms for hundreds of observers to monitor a ceasefire.

The Paris meeting included foreign ministers and envoys from Qatar, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Egypt, the UAE, Spain, the United States, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Britain, Tunisia, Turkey and the European Union.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, in his address reiterated support for Annan’s plan, but stressed the need for action and a clear vision beyond the UN moves “in order to deal with the continuing Syrian regime’s stance if need be’’.

The Prime Minister added that it has become inevitable to set an alternative mechanism in place to provide support for the Syrian people, to put an end to the ongoing bloodbath and to ensure that Annan’s plan is not circumvented.

The Prime Minister said that many states, including Qatar, are prepared, and able to provide Syrian people with all forms of support in order to defend themselves against the violence perpetrated by the regime.

The Premier stressed that the Syrians should not be left alone in these difficult circumstances, noting that the Syrian people “is expecting our assistance and support”

Senior officials, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, accused Assad of breaking the ceasefire and said a UN observer mission would have to be dramatically reinforced.

And Clinton called on the international community to press the UN Security Council to authorise a so-called Chapter Seven resolution, which would brand Assad a threat to peace and authorise tough international measures.

These could include, she said, “travel and financial sanctions, an arms embargo, and the pressure that that will give us on the regime to push for compliance with Kofi Annan’s six-point plan”.

Clinton also raised the prospect that Turkey could react to “outrageous” Syrian shelling on its border by invoking a clause in the Nato alliance treaty that would require members to decide if their security is threatened.