NATO Chief said on Wednesday the foreign military intervention was "not the right path" in Syria.

NATO Chief said on Wednesday the foreign military intervention was "not the right path" in Syria.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen said there were "no plans at this stage" for a NATO operation, as he condemned the UN Security Council failure to reach agreement as a "big mistake", saying Russia could have an "instrumental role" in brokering peace.

"A foreign military intervention is not the right path in Syria," the NATO chief said in a speech to Australian journalists, calling instead for a political solution.
"Having said that, I strongly condemn the behavior of the Syrian security forces and the crackdown on the civilian population.

"It is absolutely outrageous what we are witnessing and (there is) no doubt that the regime in Syria is responsible for violations of the international law," he added.
"I strongly urge the Syrian leadership to accommodate the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and introduce freedom and democracy."

Rasmussen, who is on a diplomatic visit to close NATO ally Australia, said he was not sure "from a legal point of view" whether what was happening in Syria could be considered a civil war, as claimed by UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous.

"But definitely and very clearly the situation is Syria is very serious, and we have seen horrendous acts conducted by the regime and forces loyal to the regime and I strongly condemn these acts."