Main News of February 19

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours.

RUSSIA

* Hundreds of cars trailing white ribbons drove around downtown Moscow on Sunday to protest against the expected return of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin in next month's elections.

* Russia said on Sunday Latvia had "breached its international obligations" after the Baltic state declined to allow a Russian observer mission at a referendum which rejected a proposal for Russian to be made the country's second official language

WORLD

* Syria recalled its ambassador to Egypt on Sunday over Cairo’s withdrawal of its envoy in Damascus, al Jazeera television reported

* Iran has stopped oil exports to British and French companies, the Islamic republic's oil ministry said

* Iranian warships have docked in the Syrian port of Tartus, Iranian media reported

* At least 38 were killed in a riot at a prison on the outskirts of Mexico’s northern city of Monterrey on Sunday, the BBC reported