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Turkey tightens measures to prevent foreign fighters to cross into Syria

Xinhua, January 31, 2015 Adjust font size:

Turkish Foreign Minister Efkan Ala said Turkey has beefed up security measures to prevent foreign fighters from using its soil as a transit route to Syria, Turkish media reported on Saturday.

"In this context we are pursuing a considerable struggle," Ala said in a TV interview late on Friday.

He noted that 700 people suspected of Islamic State (IS) connection had crossed into Syria via the Turkish territories.

"If we confirm that they committed crimes, we will do what is required when they come back. We have taken the necessary measures against them," he made it clear.

Ala added that he discussed with interior ministers of the EU, the U.S. and Canada while in Paris in November the measures that should be taken on borders against the foreign fighters who seek to join the IS militant group.

Turkey has updated, in cooperation with the intelligence agencies of some concerned countries, a list of 10,000 people from 91 countries, who are suspected of IS connection, he said.

"As many as 1,085 people from 74 countries have been detected after entering to Turkey and they were deported," he added. Endit