Military forces loyal to Libya's eastern government said on February 21 they had pushed back Islamist fighters in several areas of Benghazi, seizing the strategic port of Marisa.

London Mayor Boris Johnson threw his weight on February 21 behind the campaign to leave the European Union, dealing a blow to David Cameron by increasing the chance British voters will ditch membership in a June referendum.

US Secretary of State John Kerry urged calm in talks on February 21 with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and reaffirmed the US commitment to a two-state solution to the conflict.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump recently rolled to victory in South Carolina in a contest that saw former Florida Governor Jeb Bush drop out, while Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton beat back a strong challenge from Bernie Sanders in Nevada.

Twin car bomb blasts killed at least 57 people in Syria's Homs on February 21, a monitoring group said, in an attack claimed by Islamic State.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on February 20 he was ready for a ceasefire, on condition "terrorists" did not use a lull in fighting to their advantage and that countries backing insurgents halted support for them.

Heavy clashes in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi have left at least 14 people dead and 32 wounded, medical officials said on February 20.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on February 20 called on the United States to give unconditional support in the fight against Syrian Kurdish militants, illustrating growing tension between Ankara and Washington over policy in northern Syria.

Turkey's presidency said US President Barack Obama had shared his concerns over the Syrian conflict and promised his support on February 19, hours after a tense exchange between the two NATO allies over the role of Kurdish militants.

David Cameron hailed a landmark deal on February 19 he said gave Britain "special status" in the European Union and pledged to campaign heart and soul to stay in the EU at a deeply uncertain referendum expected in June.