Davutoglu: Syria ceasefire not binding if it threatens Turkey

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says the Syrian ceasefire plan will not be binding if Turkey's security is threatened. He added that Ankara would take necessary measures against the Syrian Kurds and Daesh terrorists if needed. He made the comments in a live television program. The Syrian ceasefire will take effect on Saturday.
   
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that the Middle East crisis would not be resolved as long as terrorists are used as pawns in geopolitical games. Lavrov added that Moscow’s initiative of a broad anti-terrorist front will be successful only if attempts to use terrorists are stopped.
   
• Syrian government forces have managed to liberate the strategic town of Khanasir from Daesh Takfiri terrorists. Daesh had captured the town two days ago and was using a road near the town to access the city of Aleppo. The Syrian army says Khanasir is now secured and stable.
   
• 100 members of Libya’s 196-member parliament have signed a petition, supporting a UN-backed unity government. The lawmakers, however, were prevented from voting after receiving threats. The aborted confidence vote comes despite recent gains by forces loyal to the Tobruk-based government.
   
• Election campaign is over in Iran ahead of Friday’s parliamentary and the Assembly of Experts elections. Candidates are banned from campaigning on Thursday. Iranians will go to the polling stations on Friday. Authorities say more than 54 million people are eligible to vote.
   
• Pakistan’s military has ordered its troops to begin the last phase of an offensive against militants in the restive northwest near the Afghan border. The army troops are set to clear the remnants of militants from their hideouts in the mountainous areas. Pakistan’s military says it has already killed thousands of terrorists.
   
• The European Union interior ministers hold fresh talks to discuss ways to tackle the refugee crisis in the bloc. The meeting in Brussels also hosts interior ministers from non-EU members Serbia, Macedonia and Turkey. Participants hope to find ways to curb the flow of people entering the EU through the Balkans.
   
• Authorities in the US state of Virginia have declared a state of emergency after deadly thunderstorms claimed the lives of at least four people. Forecasters have warned that the threat is not over and that more than 88 million Americans are at risk of experiencing severe weather.

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