UK Foreign Secretary Says Syria Talks Must Help Moderate Opposition

Doesn't want extremists gaining power

Bolstering Syria's moderate opposition is crucial to excluding extremists from power in the war-gripped country, the UK's foreign secretary has said.

William Hague was speaking as Arab and Western foreign ministers gathered for talks with Syrian opposition officials.

The London talks are trying to lay the groundwork for planned peace negotiations in Geneva next month.

But a key group in Syria's main opposition alliance is threatening to boycott the meeting dubbed Geneva II.