BBC News with Marion Marshall.

Foreign ministers from the friends of Syria group of countries have agreed to give urgent support to Syrian rebels. After a meeting in Qatar, the group issued a statement pledging to provide urgently or the necessary material and equipment to the opposition on the ground. The French foreign minister Laurent Fabius called on Iran and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah to stay out of the conflict highlighting the role Hezbollah played in the recapture of Qusair from rebels early this month.

“Of course Hezbollah is playing a terribly negative role notably in the attack on Qusair. And we are absolutely against the internationalization of conflict. So we request that Iran and Hezbollah stop intervening in this conflict.”

Turkish riot police have used water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters in Taksim Square in Istanbul. Crowds have turned out in force despite a heavy police presence to commemorate three protesters killed in previous protests. James Reynolds is there.

Several thousand protesters gathered in the evening in Taksim Square. They planned to commemorate those killed during this month’s unrest. But the police advanced and used water cannon to disperse the protesters. The crowds scattered into nearby hotels and cafes. Some chanted against the government, others threw flowers. This was the first large protest in the center of Istanbul for five days. It’s a sign that the protest movement against the government has not finished.