Turkish security forces disperse Syrians away from border

Turkish security forces on Saturday fired warning shots to move Syrians away from the border line, as thousands gathered at the crossing to flee clashes in their hometown, private Dogan News Agency reported.

The Turkish security forces did not allowed any Syrians through the border gate and warned them to move away from the wire fences around the Akcakale crossing in Sanliurfa province of southeastern Turkey, according to the report.

Tension arose when the Syrians insisted to cross the border gate, the report said, adding that the Turkish forces used water cannon to cool them off.

A group of Islamic State (IS) members came next to the border and convinced the Syrians to go back to their hometowns, the report said.

More than 16,000 Syrians have crossed the Turkish border during the past two weeks to flee clashes between IS militants and the Kurdish fighters, as the latter are advancing to the Syrian town of Tal Abyad which is held by the jihadists.

On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said that they would restrict the flow of Syrian refugees into Turkey after an influx of thousands due to the fighting between Kurdish fighters and jihadists.

New entries would only be allowed in case of a humanitarian tragedy, he said, adding that no Syrians have crossed the border since then.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tanju Bilgic said on Friday that the government continues the "open door" policy, but only for cases of humanitarian tragedy.

Turkey has been hosting nearly two million Syrian refugees since a civil war erupted in the neighboring country in 2011. Endit