Worries remain, however, that Iran, India or other countries would back off agreement.

Alabama native who waged jihad alongside al-Shabab militants faces a Saturday deadline to surrender to the insurgents or be killed.

U.S. intelligence officials fear the terrorists could be on the verge of establishing an Iraq-like foothold that would be hard to defeat if rebels eventually oust President Bashar Assad.

Is the long-running U.S. drone programme legal - and are Americans legitimate targets?