A new cold war is looming as the US and its European allies are vying with Russia for influence over the Africa, says a political commentator.

Russia and Sudan have been "cooperating in the fields of economy and investment," Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister says the US is playing with fire in the Kurdish-populated regions between Iraq and Syria as it promotes separatism there.

China says mutual political trust with Russia has increased after Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu's visit to Moscow.

The drills will run from February 17 to 27 near the South African port city of Durban and Richards Bay.

Protests continue in the Nagorno-Karabakh region's largest city Stepanakert as the blockade of the only land link to Armenia, which entered its 16th day on Tuesday, is spawning a humanitarian catastrophe for local Armenians.

The Russian foreign minister says Moscow will stand firmly against any attempt aimed at infringement upon Syria’s territorial integrity.