BEIJING, March 11  — Many countries in the world on Thursday voiced their opposition to any military intervention in unrest-torn Libya amid increasing calls for enforcing a no-fly zone over the North African country.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Damascus was against all forms of external intervention in Libya’s affairs, and stressed respect for its sovereignty, independence and unity.

“Syria calls for securing the lives of civilians, stopping violence against the Libyan people and resorting to wisdom and dialogue,” the official SANA news agency reported.

The African Union also rejected “any form of foreign military intervention” in Libya.

“The council reaffirms its firm commitment to the respect of the unity and territorial integrity of Libya,” said Ramtane Lamamra, commissioner of AU’s Peace and Security Council.

The announcements came after NATO ministers decided Thursday to move warships to the central Mediterranean, but failed to reach an agreement on the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya.

“These ships will improve NATO’s situational awareness, which is vital in the current circumstances, and they will contribute to our surveillance and monitoring capability,” NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said after a meeting of defense ministers in Brussels.

The United States and its Western allies were debating on enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya, along with a military action against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.