EU hosts international conference to help Syria rebuild

International donors pledged 5.8 billion euros in aid for Syria Monday at a Brussels conference seeking to help set the war-torn country on the road to stability after Bashar al-Assad's ouster.

"Together they have pledged a total of 5.8 billion euros in grants and loans," said EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica, adding that grants accounted for 4.2 billion euros and loans 1.6 billion. Western and regional powers are desperate to steer Syria onto the road to stability after 14 years of civil war that have sent millions of refugees over its borders. 

For the first time, the Syrian authorities were represented at the annual aid conference in Brussels with interim foreign minister Assaad al-Shibani attending.