MOSCOW - The Syrian government said onTuesday military intervention in Syria was "impossible" becauseit would lead to a confrontation beyond the country's borders.
Deputy Syrian Prime Minister Qadri Jamil, speaking at a newsconference in Moscow, appeared to be responding to PresidentBarack Obama's threat that U.S. forces could act if Syriadeployed chemical weapons against rebels.
Jamil said the West was looking for an excuse for militaryintervention, likening the focus on Syria's chemical weaponswith Western policy towards Iraq, invaded by U.S.-led forces onthe grounds it was concealing weapons of mass destruction.
"The West is looking for an excuse for direct intervention.If this excuse does not work, it will look for another excuse.But it does not understand a new fact, confirmed in theinternational situation after the Russian-Chinese veto which hascontinued until this moment," he said.
He was referring to China and Russia's veto of SecurityCouncil action that would have added to international pressureon President Basher Assad, who is fighting to put down a17-month old uprising against his rule.
"Direct military intervention in Syria is impossible becausewhoever thinks about it ... is heading towards a confrontationwider than Syria's borders," he said. "Regarding Obama'sthreats, they are media threats to be used in the media campaignin readiness for the coming elections."