UPDATE 2- Over 1,000 undocumented migrants held in Turkey

UPDATES WITH MORE MIGRANTS, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Sinan Ozmus and Salih Baran

ANKARA (AA) - A total of 1,082 undocumented migrants were held across Turkey, security sources said Wednesday.

In the Aegean Izmir province, the coast guard rounded up 56 Syrian and three Iranian nationals trying to reach Greece, said the sources on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The migrants were stranded in the Aegean Sea after their boat's motor stopped.

Separately, 44 Syrians -- half of them children -- were held in the Kas district of the southern Antalya province.

Five alleged human smugglers were arrested for further investigation, the source said.

In the southern Hatay province, 36 Syrians were held trying to enter Turkey.

Later on Wednesday, the coast guard and gendarmerie held 790 undocumented migrants in the northwestern province of Edirne.

The migrants include Afghan, Algerian, Pakistani, Palestinian, Tunisian, Moroccan, Syrian and Bangladeshi nationals, another security source said.

Separately, 125 undocumented migrants were held in a two-day operation in the eastern province of Erzurum.

Also, 28 undocumented migrants were held by gendarmerie forces late Wednesday in Izmir and three alleged human smugglers were arrested, a security source said.

The source added that most of the migrants are Africans and the human smugglers were preparing to bring them to Greece's Samos island.

Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the civil war in Syria.