Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani said the only way to resolve the civil war in Syria was to arm rebels battling President Bashar al-Assad and also called upon Lebanon's government to halt intervention by Lebanese factions in the neighbouring conflict.

"Force is necessary to achieve justice. And the provision of weapons is the only way to achieve peace in Syria's case," Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani told ministers from Western and Arab states who support the uprising against Assad.

"Force is necessary to achieve justice. And the provision of weapons is the only way to achieve peace in Syria's case," Sheikh Hamad told ministers at the start of the talks.

"We cannot wait due to disagreement among Security Council members over finding a solution to the problem," he said.

Sheikh Hamad also called on Lebanon's government to halt intervention by Lebanese factions in the neighbouring conflict.

Lebanese guerrillas from the pro-Iranian Hezbollah led the assault by Assad's forces to recapture the town of Qusair earlier this month.-Reuters