Turkey clamps down on Syria border after Kurdish unrest

Turkey has begun to close some of its border crossings with Syria after at least 70,000 Kurdish refugees entered the country since Friday, the BBC reported.

This follows clashes on Sunday between Turkish security forces and protesting Kurds. The closures may stop Kurdish fighters entering Syria to fight IS.

Most refugees are from the town of Kobane, where a massacre by the approaching militants is feared.

IS has taken over large swathes of Iraq and Syria in recent months.

Turkey has taken in more than 847,000 refugees since the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began three years ago.

Some of the new arrivals are being sheltered in overcrowded schools, as Turkey struggles to cope with the influx.

Turkey opened its border on Friday to Syrians fleeing the town of Kobane, also known as Ayn al-Arab.

Clashes broke out on Sunday after a solidarity demonstration by Kurds on the Turkish side of the border.

Some protesters are believed to have thrown stones at security forces, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

Reports say Turkish security forces were trying to stop Kurdish fighters from entering Syria to take part in the defence of Kobane.

Islamic State (IS) is closing in on the predominantly Kurdish town, having seized dozens of villages in the area in recent days.