Syrian authorities have taken the rare step of denying media reports of an attack on President Bashar al-Assad’s motorcade as he traveled to a mosque on Thursday to attend prayersmarking a Muslim holiday.

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said Tuesday that Turks living in Bulgaria were acting like bridges between two countries. “The social, political, and cultural relations between the neighbouring countries Turkey and Bulgaria are so strong,” said Bozdag during his 3-day visit in Bulgaria adding he believed the relations would even get better.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed Thursday the escalating humanitarian crisis and increasing sectarian violence in Syria with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.