The Western and Arab diplomats were trying to agree ways to pressure the regime of President Bashar al-Assad to accept a UN-Arab plan to stop the bloodshed that has claimed more than 9,000 lives, according to opposition estimates.

The final statement from the summit recognized the SNC "as a legitimate representative of all Syrians" and "the leading interlocutor of the opposition with the international community." However it avoided backing appeals from the opposition for arms support.

It added: "The regime will be judged by its deeds rather than its promises. The window of opportunity for the regime to implement its commitments to joint special envoy Annan is not open-ended."

The meeting in Istanbul was the second "Friends of Syria" conference, hosting dozens of diplomats. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the conference that Syrians' right to self-defense must be supported.

"If the United Nations Security Council refrains from taking on the responsibility, the international community will have no choice but to accept Syrians' right to self-defense," Erdogan told diplomats.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also blasted the Assad regime, saying that its continued attacks on dissidents blatantly contradicted its acceptance of Annan's peace plan.

"Nearly a week has gone by, and we have to conclude that the regime is adding to its long list of broken promises," she said, adding that Assad was "mistaken" if he thought he could weather through the opposition.

Fractured opposition

Conference participants were also expected to discuss ways to strengthen the fractured Syrian opposition, as well as the six-point peace plan put forward by joint UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. Most opposition groups formally united under the SNC name last week.

Erdogan said he hoped Annan's plan would bring results, but he added: "It is probable that the Syrian administration which gave promises both to us (Turkey) and to the international community will use Annan's initiative as an attempt to buy time."

The SNC called on the Friends of Syria group to provide direct aid to rebel groups inside the country.

"The provision of arms is not our preferred option. We know it carries high risks of escalation into civil war, but we cannot stand back and watch our people being massacred," a statement from the group said. "We believe this decision rests on the shoulders of the international community."

The meeting comes one day after Syrian security forces announced the revolt by rebel groups seeking more freedoms under the Assad regime had ended. Violence continued to rage around the country, however, as opposition groups vowed defiantly to continue their struggle.

acb, dfm/ipj (AFP, dpa)