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Thousands stranded at Greek border as Ankara pressures EU over Idlib escalation

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said border security would continue to stand down Monday as thousands of refugees and migrants attempt to enter Greece by land and sea.
Migrants throw stones at a Greek military vehicle on the Turkish-Greek border at Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing with Greece's Kastanies, near Edirne, Turkey, March 2, 2020. REUTERS/Cansu Alkaya - RC2OBF93OREA

ISTANBUL — Barbed wire and chain-link fence separate Greek security forces in riot gear from a growing number of refugees and migrants arriving at Turkey’s Pazarkule border gate after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his nation’s border guards would not stop individuals from entering Greece.

Since Friday's announcement at least 13,000 people have reached the land crossing, according to United Nations estimates, under the impression they could cross the border. Most have so far been stopped by Greek police, which requested the rapid deployment of the European Union’s border agency, Frontex, to help manage a sudden surge in attempts to enter the country.

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