A conference of

veteran

opposition figures in Syria has ended with a call for the formation of a national coalition to include all parties opposed to the current President Bashar al-Assad. The authorities did not prevent the meeting taking place, but kept a close watch on those who attended. From Damascus, Lina Sinjab reports.

The meeting included around 200 opposition figures representing different parties and had the support of the protesters. Their demands were

read out

, but they didn't attend for fear of arrest. The opposition asked for no international intervention, no sectarianism and no violence. Although the meeting was held in support of the street protest, most of those attending were from the old traditional opposition who spent years of their lives in prison. The object of this meeting is to create a coalition uniting all the opposition elements, including the protesters.

European Union finance ministers have ended a two-day meeting in Poland with many issues affecting the eurozone's debt crisis still unresolved. The ministers agreed on tougher budget rules for EU members, but no decisions were taken on giving more money to Greece to prevent it

default

ing on its debts or on how to strengthen the eurozone's rescue fund.

World News from the BBC

Madagascar's political leaders have signed a deal in the capital Antananarivo, paving the way for elections to be held within a year and to re-establish democracy. The road map also includes allowing the return to the country of the ousted leader Marc Ravalomanana, who was overthrown by the current President Andry Rajoelina with military help two years ago.