Abel Matutes, the foreign minister, says it could damage Chile's fledgling democracy, not to mention Spain's strong economic ties with Chile (not to add, since he didn't, a possible Chilean contract to buy Spanish submarines).

ECONOMIST: Spain and General Pinochet

But former Foreign Office minister Mr MacShane said the changes would see "irreparable damage" done to Britain.

BBC: Urgent question: BBC World Service

Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, a former intelligence chief and foreign minister, postponed a trip to Washington in protest and said airstrikes would damage Moscow's ties with the West.

CNN: Yeltsin to meet with aides on response to bombings

Former Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Dimas called the suggestion "insulting, " and said Germany should pay reparations for the damage and loss of life the country inflicted on Europe during the Second World War.

CNN: Euro crisis opens old wounds for Greece, Germany

Speaking in Moscow, where he hosted league officials and several Arab foreign ministers, the Russian foreign minister said that sitting down at a negotiating table was the only way to end the conflict without irreparable damage to Syria.

BBC: Syria conflict: Many dead in huge Damascus bombing