Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (C) meets members of a ministerial committee responsible for establishing a framework aimed at ending the two-year conflict with anti-government forces, in this handout photograph distributed by Syria's national news agency SANA on March 27, 2013. REUTERS/SANA/Handout (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT CIVIL UNREST) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Syria's President Assad (centre) meets members of a ministerial committee responsible for establishing a framework aimed at ending the two-year conflict with anti-government forces, in this handout photograph distributed by Syria's national news agency. Photo: SANA

President Bashar Assad of Syria beseeched a five-nation group of emerging powers Wednesday to help halt the Syrian conflict, one day after the Arab League moved to further isolate Assad by ceremoniously filling his government's vacant seat with the opposition coalition that has sworn to topple him.

In a letter addressed to the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — the so-called BRICS group of developing nations, which convened a summit meeting in Durban, South Africa — Mr Assad sought to frame his request as a plea for assistance in the fight of good against evil. He depicted the opposition forces as terrorists bent on destroying Syria with help from a conspiracy of hostile Arab and Western countries.

"You, with all the huge political, economic and cultural weight you represent that seeks to consolidate peace, security and justice in the troubled world of today, are called upon to exert all possible efforts to end the suffering of the Syrian people," Mr Assad said in the letter, as reported by SANA, the official Syrian news agency.

But there was no indication that the BRICS group would align itself with Mr Assad in the conflict.

In a communique issued at the end of the summit meeting, the member countries said, "We express our deep concern with the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Syria and condemn the increasing violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law as a result of continued violence."

In a passage that was welcomed by rights groups, the communique urged all parties "to allow and facilitate immediate, safe, full and unimpeded access to humanitarian organisations to all in need of assistance."

Carroll Bogert, the deputy executive director for external relations at Human Rights Watch, said that passage was potentially significant, particularly if Russia and China, the two BRICS members that have defended Mr Assad's government, now pressure him on the aid issue. If that pressure is not forthcoming, she said in a telephone interview, "they've made a pretty weak statement on Syria."

Russia and China, which are both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, have repeatedly thwarted attempts by Western and Arab members to punish Mr Assad for his repression of a political uprising that began two years ago and has turned into a civil war.

Brazil, India and South Africa have sought to be more neutral, urging antagonists in the conflict to negotiate a political solution.