US President Barack Obama won the backing of two top Republicans in Congress in his call for limited US strikes on Syria to punish president Bashar al-Assad for his suspected use of chemical weapons against civilians.

Attackers killed at least 29 people – decapitating most of the victims – on a ranch in a part of northern Guatemala plagued by drug cartels.

A group of Sri Lankan doctors who have been in police custody for nearly two months were brought before the media to recant their reports of mass civilian casualties during the final days of the civil war.