Germany rules out action without UN mandate in Syria

Germany would not participate in military intervention against the alleged chemical weapon use in Syria without a UN mandate, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday.

Merkel, speaking in the final session of parliament before the September 22 election, called for a "collective response of the international community" to the crisis in Syria Tuesday, saying that she would push for action in the upcoming G20 summit, reports Xinhua.

Germany is scheduled to elect a new parliament in less than three weeks. Recent polls showed that more than half of the German population opposes military action by western countries in Syria.

In their only televised debate Sunday, both Merkel and her challenger Peer Steinbrueck stressed that Germany would not participate in military strike on Syria.

In Tuesday's parliament session, Merkel called her past term "four good years" with low unemployment and a strong economy. She asked for four more years to "continue on the path to success".