Turkey opens border to Syrian refugees fleeing Tal Abyad

Source: AFP

Akçakale (Turkey) (AFP) - Turkey on Sunday began accepting onto its territory Syrian refugees fleeing the battle between Kurds and Islamic State (IS) jihadists for the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad, an AFP photographer said.

Dozens of Syrian refugees, many carrying sacks of possessions, started passing through the Akcakale border gate onto Turkish territory as thousands more awaited their turn to cross on other side.

Turkey had for several days been blocking the Syrians from entering Turkey, saying it would only allow them into the country in the event of a humanitarian tragedy.

However, local officials in Akcakale said earlier that permission had been received from Ankara to allow the refugees to cross into Turkey.

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