British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Saturday there is evidence that the Syrian government could use its chemical weapons stocks in its conflict with rebels fighting to oust it.

"We are extremely concerned about the stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and we are also concerned about evidence during the last couple of weeks that the regime could use them," Hague told reporters in Manama on the sidelines of a regional security conference.

The European Union is unlikely to use trade sanctions to punish Israel over its plans to build new settlements, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Tuesday.

Hague repeated his condemnation of the "illegal" settlements on occupied Palestinian territory and urged Israeli politicians to "listen very carefully" to international diplomatic pressure on the issue.

Britain's interior ministry said on Monday that it has applied for permission to appeal against a decision by judges to block the extradition of terror suspect Abu Qatada to Jordan.

"We confirm that we have submitted our grounds for appeal," a Home Office spokesman told Agence France Presse.

Britain needs a new independent media regulator to eliminate a subculture of unethical behavior that infected segments of the country's press, a senior judge said Thursday at the end of a yearlong inquiry into newspaper wrongdoing.

Lord Justice Brian Leveson said a new regulatory body should be established in law to prevent more people from being hurt by "press behavior that, at times, can only be described as outrageous."

Iran on Wednesday welcomed a British court ruling against the extradition of former Iranian ambassador Nosratollah Tajik, wanted by Washington for allegedly conspiring to smuggle arms to the Islamic republic.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the court ruling, even though it was delayed for six years," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said, quoted by state broadcaster IRIB.

Britain said Wednesday it will abstain on a vote for upgraded Palestinian diplomatic status at the United Nations unless the Palestinians commit to an unconditional return to talks with Israel, as Germany said it would not vote in favor of the resolution.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said Britain would only support Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Thursday's vote at U.N. headquarters if Abbas agreed to negotiations over a lasting two-state deal with Israel.

A former Iranian ambassador on Tuesday won his court battle against extradition from Britain to the United States for allegedly conspiring to smuggle arms to Iran.

Nosratollah Tajik, Iran's former ambassador to Jordan, is wanted by Washington over claims that he conspired to export U.S. night-vision equipment to Iran without a license.

More than 800 homes in England and Wales have been flooded as heavy rain and strong winds battered the country and environmental officials warned of more downpours to come on Monday.

Two people have died since heavy rain began on Wednesday, including a woman killed by a falling tree in the southwestern English city of Exeter and a man trapped in his car in rising waters in Somerset.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague urged the United States on Sunday to take a "decisive lead" on reviving the Middle East peace process following the deadly conflict in Gaza.

Following President Barack Obama's re-election this month, "we do look to the United States to give a decisive lead in the coming months," Hague told BBC television, adding: "They have crucial leverage with Israel that no other country has."

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Thursday that Hamas "bears principal responsibility" for the surge in deadly Gaza violence, saying it should cease attacks against Israel immediately.

He also strongly urged Israel to do its utmost to reduce tensions, avoid civilian casualties and help create the conditions for peace, warning: "It is imperative to avoid the risk of a spiral of violence."