Lebanese leaders are urging calm while the country observes three days of mourning following Tuesday's assassination of an anti-Syrian cabinet member.

Anti-Syrian Druze leader Walid Jumblatt blamed Syria for Gemayel's assassination and said he expected more killings aimed at undermining parliament's ruling majority.

Turkey says that more than 1,500 Syrian refugees crossed its border on Thursday as Syrian forces stormed to the region in their latest show of force against anti-government protesters.