International talks aiming to end bloodshed in Syria sought consensus on measures that could circumvent the problem of having to work without China and Russia, the two powers that continue to support Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The so-called Friends of Syria coalition of EU, U.S. and Arab League diplomats and ministers worked Friday through drafts that could become the basis for a plan of action.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the talks would focus on easing the humanitarian crisis, increasing pressure on the Assad regime to ease its military assault on civilian protesters and opposition groups and preparing ground for a post-Assad Syria.

"We look forward to concrete progress on three fronts -- providing humanitarian relief, increasing pressure on the regime and preparing for a democratic transition," Clinton told reporters in London before flying to Tunis.

As she announced $10 million of U.S. humanitarian aid, Clinton said the meeting should serve as a warning to Assad that "you will pay a heavy cost for ignoring the will of the international community and violating the human rights of your people."

Assad has dismissed the talks as a gathering of Syria's enemies. The absence of China and Russia from the meeting opened the possibility that the talks would prompt a quest for a framework that could get around the problem of facing another veto from the two permanent U.N. Security Council members.

Support is growing within EU governments for going beyond introducing tougher sanctions. Syrian opposition delegates attending the talks articulated this change and called for open military aid, an option so far ruled out by EU, U.S. and other Arab participants.

Arab League diplomats say that, short of a military showdown, Assad could be persuaded to hand over power if promised safe exit to a friendly place of refuge, such as Russia.

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki echoed Arab League's preference of keeping the initiative in Arab hands and not encourage a repeat of the NATO-led military intervention that toppled Moammar Gaddafi in Libya.

A NATO-led military operation in Syria is least likely option but there is a groundswell of support for some sort of military intervention fronted by the pro-West opposition, analysts said. The Syrian rebels are receiving military support from undisclosed sources, thought to be Qatar.

More than 6,000 people have been killed in the country since the uprising began, including scores reported dead in a siege on Homs.

A U.N. panel, in a 72-page report, said there was evidence that officials at the "highest level of government" were behind the 11-month assault on anti-regime groups in the country. Damascus says it is facing armed rebels funded by its foreign enemies.

Most Arab-led diplomatic efforts support a settlement with the Assad regime that will either grant Assad more time and maintain control or facilitate his safe exit without a dismantling of the state. A referendum for a draft constitution, planned for the weekend in Syria, aims to maintain links between the current ruling elite and any future government.

More than 70 nations and organizations represented in the Friends of Syria group include Turkey and France, two countries that took part in the Libya operation in different capacities. Britain and France led the NATO military assault on Libya while Turkey largely played a humanitarian role.

This time, however, there is lukewarm support for direct European involvement in any military campaign but increasing sympathy for arming the rebels.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the British government would recognize the opposition Syrian National Council as the "legitimate representative of the Syrian people." SNC has appealed for arms shipments from Friends of Syria coalition members if Assad fails to accept an Arab League-led package for peace.

Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced he accepted a request from the United Nations and Arab League to serve as a joint special envoy on the Syrian crisis.

"I look forward to having the full cooperation of all relevant parties and stakeholders in support of this united and determined effort by the United Nations and the Arab League to help bring an end to the violence and human rights abuses, and promote a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis," he said in a statement.