Syria conflict: Assad fires more Scuds

Germany's defence minister has become the latest to predict the imminent collapse of the Assad regime, AP reports.

Thomas de Maiziere told mass-circulation daily Bild that "there are signs that the opposition will soon achieve a military victory against the regime."

The interview to be published Saturday also cited him as saying that a foreign military intervention remains "absolutely not up for debate".

Maiziere's assessment chimes with analysis by right-leaning thinktank the Washington Institute for Near East studies.

Defence fellow Jeffrey White said: "The regime's forces could collapse at any time now."

Speaking at seminar on Thursday he said the use of air power, artillery fire and Scud missiles were failing to hold back rebel advances.

"Maybe the war's got some weeks to run, may be a few months, but not more than that," he said.