21 irregular migrants held in Turkey

By Yunus Ugur

ANTALYA, Turkey (AA) - Police in southern Turkey held a group of irregular migrants preparing to leave the country illegally, according to an official statement on Wednesday.

Acting on a tip, local police teams in Antalya province held 21 irregular migrants from Syria in the Gazipasa district.

The migrants were later referred to the provincial migration directorate.

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 in any country in the world.