5 irregular migrants held in southern Turkey

By Muzaffer Cagliyaner

OSMANIYE, Turkey (AA) - At least five irregular immigrants, all Afghan nationals, were held in southern Turkey on Wednesday, according to security sources.

After stopping a minibus in Bahce in the southern Osmaniye province, gendarmerie forces held a group of irregular migrants who had entered the country illegally, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The migrants were transferred to the local provincial migration office after routine procedures.

Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

It hosts nearly 4 million refugees, including more than 3.6 million Syrians, the most of any country in the world.

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*Writing by Ahmet Gencturk in Ankara