Germany Insists Military Action Not the Answer in Syria

Germany's defense minister again ruled out military intervention in Syria Sunday, warning it should not be considered a knee-jerk response to the failure of diplomatic efforts to end the bloodshed.

Thomas de Maiziere told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that Kofi Annan's decision to quit as international peace envoy to Syria did not change Germany's stance on the sending of troops into the nearly 17-month conflict.

"The failure of diplomacy must not automatically bring about the onset of the military," he said in an interview with the paper.

De Maiziere said it was "frustrating" to see the killings in Syria -- activists say the conflict has cost the lives of more than 20,000 people -- without directly being able to act to stop them.

But he said Germany must help in other ways, by providing humanitarian aid and logistic support for the democratically-minded members of the Syrian opposition.

The Berlin-based think tank, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, has said it is working with up to 50 members of the Syrian opposition on plans for a political transition after a possible ouster of President Bashar Assad.