G8 leaders express commitment to political solution in Syria

G8 leaders on Tuesday said they remained committed "to achieving a political solution to the crisis based on a vision for a united, inclusive and democratic Syria." "We strongly endorse the decision to hold as soon as possible a Geneva conference on Syria," a final communique issued after the G8 Summit read. The communique said the Syrian government's military forces and security services must be preserved during the transitional period. "As the Geneva communique says, public services must be preserved or restored. This includes the military forces and security services. However, all governmental institutions and state offices must perform according to professional and human rights standards, operating under a top leadership that inspires public confidence, under the control of the transitional governing body," it said. The crisis in Syria dominated the agenda of the annual G8 summit in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland.