The United States Thursday warned against further "militarizing" the Syria conflict, a day after saying it could offer non-lethal military aid to rebels fighting the Damascus government.

Washington has argued that despite the humanitarian carnage in Syria, conditions are not ripe for a foreign intervention similar to the one in Libya, though it is looking for ways to help forces opposed to President Bashar al-Assad.

"We have made very clear that we do not believe that it is right at this time to contribute to the further militarization of the situation in Syria," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

"We are pursuing a path with the Friends of Syria that we hope will bring a political resolution to the situation there," he said referring to an international coalition opposed to Assad's continued rule.

On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told lawmakers that Washington was considering sending non-lethal aid to rebels in what would be the first direct US assistance to forces seeking Assad's downfall.

"We're considering an array of non-lethal assistance," Panetta said.

Panetta condemned the regime's violent crackdown but expressed caution about military intervention, citing a lack of international consensus, a deeply divided resistance and the risk of fueling a civil war.

Some Republican lawmakers, including Senator John McCain, have called for foreign air strikes to support the Syrian rebels and warned that time is of the essence to protect threatened civilians.

Panetta, however, echoed Obama's view that the situation was different than Libya, where a NATO-led coalition carried out a bombing campaign last year that helped topple Moamer Kadhafi's regime.

In the case of Libya, there was strong support for intervention in the UN Security Council and within the Arab League, he said. But Russia and China have opposed punitive measures and the Arab League has stopped short of endorsing an air war over Syria.

Panetta also said the armed resistance in Syria was so fragmented that it was difficult to know who outside governments should recognize or contact, with roughly 100 groups identified as part of the opposition.

Britain mulling 'non-lethal' aid to Syria rebels: Hague
London (AFP) March 8, 2012 - Britain has not ruled out providing more "non-lethal" help to Syria's rebels, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Thursday, after the US said it was considering supplying radio equipment.

"We can help and we will continue to offer help to peaceful Syrian opposition groups -- practical assistance," Hague told lawmakers at parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee.

"I also don't rule out giving more non-lethal help, but we haven't countenanced doing that beyond groups that are, so far, located outside Syria and are trying to pursue a peaceful, democratic transition," Hague continued.

The minister said there would be "logistical difficulties" in providing such help to groups inside Syria and admitted there were fears that equipment could end up in the hands of Al-Qaeda militants.

"We always consult closely with the United States," Hague said, addding that Britain had provided non-lethal help to Libyan opposition groups before the toppling of Moamer Kadhafi's regime.

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta had on Wednesday said the United States was looking at providing non-lethal aid such as radio equipment to help opposition forces in their fight against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Asked at the Senate Armed Services Committee if the US was ready to deliver communications equipment to Syrian rebels, Panetta said: "I'd prefer to discuss that in a closed session but I can tell you that we're considering an array of non-lethal assistance."

Hague said a violent overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime would have "unknowable consequences" for the region and that a peaceful political transition was the most desirable outcome.

He added that Britain, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, was continuing to negotiate with Russia and China on how to bring an end to the bloodshed in Syria.

But he warned that Russia and China, which have twice vetoed UN resolutions on Syria, are "paying a diplomatic price for the position they have taken".

"They should be concerned about their ultimate national interests in Syria," said Hague, arguing that if the Assad regime falls "then it is actually in the national interests of Russia and China to support a political transition."