G20 Summit: World Leaders Split over Syria

G20 leaders remain divided over the Syrian conflict as they begin the final day of the summit meeting being held in St Petersburg, Russia. Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta said the splits were confirmed during a working dinner between the heads of state on Thursday. He said on twitter: "The G20 has just now finished the dinner session, at which the divisions about Syria were confirmed". A Spokesperson for the Russian Presidency said a US strike on Syria would "drive another nail into the coffin". At the United Nations, the US ambassador Samantha Power accused Russia of holding the Security Council hostage by blocking resolutions, telling a news conference in New York: "Even in the wake of the flagrant shattering of the international norm against using chemical weapons use, Russia continues to hold the council hostage and shrink its international responsibilities". Following the G20 dinner, for which President Barack Obama was nearly one hour late, President Vladimir Putin's Press Spokesperson said that the World Leaders were split down the middle, with some countries seeking hasty action and others wanting to go through the UN security council.