"We are not going to export capitalist, democratic revolutions," the Russian leader told reporters as rumours in Washington allege that some elements of the US administration are mulling launching military operations against other Middle Eastern states.

"If we do, we're going to end up on a slippery slope to non-ending military conflicts. We can't let that happen," Putin said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac after holding talks with them.

The Russian leader specifically warned against foreign attempts at regime change in Syria, even as US criticisms against Damascus have steadily increased over the past few days.

Answering a reporter's question about a possible military operation against Syria, Putin said: "Chancellor Schroeder said today that a regime change could only come from the people living under that regime. I totally agree with him."

Following the demise of the Iraqi regime, top US officials have issued a series of warnings to Syria, which now fears it might be next in line for a new US strike in the Middle East.

US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday warned Damascus about giving aid to remnants of the Iraqi regime.

Rumsfeld accused Syria of helping "senior regime people out of Iraq and into Syria" and of continuing to provide Iraqi forces with equipment despite previous warnings.

And US President George W. Bush asked Syria for its "total cooperation" in closing its border with neighboring Iraq and turning over to the United States former dignitaries of Saddam Hussein's regime who may have found shelter on its territory.

SPACE.WIRE