Germany rules out military intervention in Syria

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Wednesday warned that military action -- strongly supported by Britain, France and the US -- could easily lead to an all-out war in Syria.

"We must learn lessons from past (military) interventions," he said in an address at a university in Ankara.

He also questioned a proposal for establishing a no-fly zone or buffer-zones as a complicated and serious matter.

The German defense minister was on a visit to Turkey, a country which hosts Syrian opposition meetings while its leaders have openly supported regime change in Syria.

But a number of countries including Russia and China have called for a political solution in Syria.

The opposition blames the government for the bloodshed. But Damascus points the finger at armed groups supported by some Western and Arab countries.