Despite a flurry of diplomatic activity aiming to end a war that has claimed more than 80,000 lives, Russia still shows no signs of abandoning its support for the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Pakistan's incoming Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday reached out to India and the United States, pledging to strengthen relations after his thumping victory in landmark elections.

A bomb killed 13 civilians including women and children in southern Afghanistan on Monday as they traveled to attend the funeral of earlier bomb victims, police said.

Nine Turkish citizens believed to have links to the Syrian intelligence agency have been detained in connection with twin car bombings that shattered a Turkish border town, officials said Sunday, as Syria rejected allegations it was behind one of the deadliest attacks in Turkey in years.

Iran's media was split on Sunday over which candidate to back in next month's presidential election after a key moderate and a powerful government figure entered the fray.

Pakistani politician Imran Khan on Sunday welcomed the high turnout in the country's elections as a step forward for democracy, but said his party would submit a report on alleged vote rigging.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will seek alternate sleeping arrangements when traveling after receiving a sky-high bill for installing a customized bed on a recent flight to London, officials close to the Israeli leader said.

Two explosive-laden cars blew up in a small Turkish town near the border with Syria on Saturday, killing 18 people in one of the deadliest recent attacks in the volatile area.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin, officials said Saturday, amid concerns Moscow may be about to deliver advanced missiles to Syria.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili on Saturday registered to stand in the June 14 presidential election, joining several conservative hopefuls aiming to succeed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.