Barack Obama's government has warned its Western allies and Syria's opposition groups that it can do nothing to intervene in the country's crisis until after November's presidential election.

Despite the pleas of Syrian rebels, who are seeking help for their efforts to overthrow the President, Bashar al-Assad, the White House has refused all requests for heavy weapons and intelligence support.

The announcement came as fighting in Damascus reached its worst level since the uprising began last year.

Syrian government forces backed by helicopter gunships battled rebels in fierce clashes overnight, the latest sign that Syria's conflict is fast descending into a civil war that is moving ever closer to the heart of Mr Assad's regime.

Government forces have already used tanks and armored personnel carriers in the fight in the capital but the use of airpower reflected the intensity and seriousness of the clashes.

Syrian lobby groups in Washington, who weeks ago were expressing hope the Obama administration might approve the supply of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, said they had now been forced to ''take a reality pill'' by the US government.

It is understood the Syrian Support Group, the political wing of the Free Syrian Army, recently prepared a document requesting 1000 RPG-29 anti-tank missiles, 500 SAM-7 rockets and 750 23mm machine guns, as well as body armour and secure satellite phones. They also wanted $US6 million to pay rebel fighters. But the group abandoned these plans after being warned they would be rejected.

The Obama administration has also made clear to its allies that it will not intervene, a message that was carried to London last week by Tom Donilon, the White House national security adviser.

Sources in Washington who were familiar with the matter said Mr Donilon had made it ''abundantly clear'' there was no room for increased American involvement in Syria.

Syrian lobby groups in Washington have been reluctant to speak publicly about their frustrations with the Obama government for fear of alienating White House officials, but also giving succor to the Assad regime.

However, a third lobby group, which asked to remain anonymous, said it too had come up against a White House ''red line''.

The American position means there is little hope of a swift resolution to the Syrian crisis, with the stage set instead for a protracted civil war.

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Editor's Note: This cowardly decision also exposes the fact that Mr. Obama and his band of Progressive political opportunists put re-election ahead of human life and the responsibility of the office of the President of the United States to make tough decisions in the face of politics.


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