Five killed by snipers in Lebanon's Tripoli
The deaths are the latest round of violence fuelled by sectarian tensions over neighbouring Syria's civil war.
Militant Islamist video threatens Winter Olympics
RUSSIA-OLYMPICS/MILITANTS (UPDATE 1, PICTURES, TV):UPDATE 1-Militant Islamist video threatens Winter Olympics
Saudi: Iran not eligible to attend Syria peace talks
SYRIA-CRISIS/SAUDI (URGENT):Saudi: Iran not eligible to attend Syria peace talks
Baghdad bomb blasts kill 26, Iraqi troops fight Sunni rebels
Seven bombs wounded 67 more people, as security forces have been battling Sunni Muslim militants around the western cities of Falluja and Ramadi
A Free Syrian Army fighter inspects his mobile phone while resting in a damaged apartment in Jabal al-Akrad area in Syria's northwestern Latakia province
REFILE WITH CORRECT LOCATION A long haired Free Syrian Army fighter inspects his mobile phone while resting in a damaged apartment in Jabal al-Akrad area in Syria's northwestern Latakia province January 19, 2014. The graffiti on the wall reads "God is great, The father of Assad (lion)". REUTERS/Khattab Abdulaa (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
A Free Syrian Army fighter rests with his weapon in a damaged apartment in Jabal al-Akrad area in Syria's northwestern Latakia province
REFILE WITH CORRECT LOCATION A Free Syrian Army fighter rests with his weapon in a damaged apartment in Jabal al-Akrad area in Syria's northwestern Latakia province January 19, 2014. REUTERS/Khattab Abdulaa (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
A Free Syrian Army fighter prepares a meal inside a safehouse in the Kurd Mountains of Aleppo countryside
REFILE WITH CORRECT LOCATION A Free Syrian Army fighter prepares a meal inside a safehouse in Jabal al-Akrad area in Syria's northwestern Latakia province January 19, 2014. REUTERS/Khattab Abdulaa (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
A Free Syrian Army fighter inspects an unexploded shell in Jabal al-Akrad area
REFILE WITH CORRECT LOCATION A Free Syrian Army fighter inspects an unexploded shell in Jabal al-Akrad area in Syria's northwestern Latakia province January 19, 2014. REUTERS/Khattab Abdulaa (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT)
Syria peace talks must focus on fighting terrorism-Assad
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he would likely seek a new term in presidential elections this year, in an interview with news agency AFP