Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi said he had cut all diplomatic ties with Damascus on Saturday and demanded Hezbollah leave Syria.

Addressing a gathering of Sunni Muslim clerics in Cairo, the Islamist head of state said: "We decided today to entirely break off relations with Syria and with the current Syrian regime." Morsi said he had decided to close down Syrian Embassy in Cairo.

Morsi also urged world powers not to hesitate to enforce a no-fly zone over Syria on Saturday, in a move that threw the backing of the most populous Arab state firmly behind behind the revolt against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Morsi also warned Assad's allies in the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shi'ite militia to pull back from fighting in Syria: "We stand against Hezbollah in its aggression against the Syrian people," Morsi said. "Hezbollah must leave Syria - these are serious words. There is no space or place for Hezbollah in Syria."