Dr Al-Attiyah said Qatar preferred to solve regional crises through direct political dialogue.

Reuters/Dubai

Qatar, a supporter of rebels in Syria's civil war, suggested it could intervene militarily following Russia's intervention in support of President Bashar al-Assad but said it still preferred a political solution to the crisis.

The comments by Qatar's foreign minister, made in a CNN interview on Wednesday, drew a swift reply from Assad's government with a senior official warning that Damascus would respond harshly to such "direct aggression".

Qatar has been a supporter of anti-Assad rebel groups.

Asked by CNN if Qatar supported the Saudi position that does not rule out a military option in Syria as a result of Russia's intervention, HE the Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah said:

"Anything that protects the Syrian people and Syria from partition, we will not spare any effort to carry it out with our Saudi and Turkish brothers, no matter what this is.

"If a military intervention will protect the Syrian people from the brutality of the regime, we will do it," he added.

Al-Attiyah also said Qatar preferred to solve regional crises through direct political dialogue.

"We do not fear any confrontation, and thus we will call for dialogue from a position of strength because we believe in peace and the shortest path to peace is through direct dialogue."

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