Briefly

IRAQ

Security tightened amid clashes in Syria

Iraq tightened security on its border with Syria on Saturday after Islamic State militants broke out of a Kurdish-controlled prison in Syria's Al-Hasakah Province. The Iraqi security forces are ready to confront any attempt by IS militants to infiltrate Iraqi territory, Yahia Rasoul, spokesman of the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, told the official Iraqi News Agency. The IS militants escaped from the prison in the Gweiran neighborhood of Al-Hasakah on Thursday, and violent clashes between the Kurdish-led forces and the IS ensued. At least 120 people were killed in the violence, a war monitor said on Sunday, as clashes entered a fourth day.

ITALY

Berlusconi drops out of race for presidency

The former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has bowed out of the presidential election set for this week, saying he had the votes to win but the country could ill-afford political division during the pandemic. He also announced that he is opposing, with his allies in a center-right bloc, any bid for the presidency by Premier Mario Draghi. Draghi, the former head of Europe's central bank, is now leading a pandemic-unity government. A two-thirds majority is required in the first three rounds of the election, and the fourth round requires a simple majority. The term of the current president expires on Feb 3.

Agencies - Xinhua