Turkey has signaled possible support for a buffer zone to protect Syrian civilians if the Assad regime continues its deadly crackdown on protesters.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the Financial Times on Tuesday that Ankara was preparing targeted sanctions against Damascus and left the door open for more drastic steps at a later date, such as a buffer zone or a no fly-zone on Syrian territory.

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi is to travel to Libya to boost ties with the country's new leaders following an international conference in Turkey Wednesday on Afghanistan, Tehran said.

"After Turkey, the foreign minister will go to Libya to boost bilateral relations," the Iranian government said in a statement on its website, giving no further details.

Rival Greek- and Turkish- Cypriot leaders made "encouraging progress" in two days of talks on reuniting the divided Mediterranean island, U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday.

The U.N. secretary general brought together Demetris Christofias, head of the internationally recognized Greek-Cypriot government, and Turkish-Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, for two days of talks at a retreat in the New York suburbs on Sunday and Monday.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he believes the Syrian opposition will be successful in their “glorious resistance” to the ongoing government crackdown, Turkey’s English-language daily Today’s Zaman reported Tuesday.

Speaking during his Justice and Development Party's parliamentary bloc meeting on Tuesday, Erdogan warned that Turkey cannot remain silent in the face of the events in Syria.

Turkey's economic development and its role as a regional power will be reinforced by a strengthening of its democracy and peace with its neighbors, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday.

"Turkey’s ability to realize its full potential depends upon its resolve to strengthen democracy at home and promote peace in the neighborhood," Clinton said in a speech at the American-Turkish Council.

The Phalange Party stressed on Monday the need to fortify Lebanon against the repercussions of the developments in the Arab world.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “The situation in the region requires constant contacts between the leaderships in Lebanon and the Arab, regional, and international scenes.”

French police fired tear gas to break up clashes that erupted between Turkish protesters and supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in central Paris on Sunday.

Around 150 young Turks waving their national flag and singing patriotic songs gathered on the Place de la Bastille to protest "terrorism in Turkey" after an attack by PKK rebels that killed 24 earlier this month.

The death toll from eastern Turkey's devastating earthquake rose to 596 on Sunday while bulldozers were replacing sniffer dogs as search efforts wound down.

More than 4,150 people were injured in the 7.2 magnitude quake that shook the eastern Van province near the Iranian border a week ago, the prime ministry's emergency unit said in a statement on its website.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel urged Turkey on Saturday to launch a practical measure that serves stability, security and coexistence in the region.

“We share the same vision with the Turkish officials concerning the developments in the region,” Gemayel said after meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

Iran's foreign minister and head of the autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq declared on Saturday the issue of a Kurdish rebel group which has been launching attacks against the Islamic republic from its rear bases in Iraq was "over."

In July, Tehran launched a string of operations against the rebel Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) and began shelling districts near the border with Iraq, killing dozens including the rebels' deputy commander.