Qatar's emir has called for an Arab-led intervention in Syria, hinting at the use of military force.

"It is better for the Arab countries themselves to interfere out of their national, humanitarian, political and military duties, and to do what is necessary to stop the bloodshed in Syria," Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani told the United Nations general assembly yesterday.

"We have a similar precedent when the Arab forces intervened in Lebanon" in the 1970s, he said.

The French president, Francois Hollande called for UN protection of "liberated zones" under opposition control in Syria. He said France would recognise an opposition government when it is formed.