Migrants 'trapped in no man's land'

Immigrants were forced to say they arrived from Greece

By Chris Morris in Istanbul

More than 70 African migrants are reported to be trapped on the border between Turkey and Greece after being forcibly expelled by the Turkish authorities.

Local human-rights activists say they are extremely concerned about reports of mistreatment and abuse.

Earlier this month, the authorities in Istanbul rounded up hundreds of foreign migrants in the city.

More than 200 Africans say they were forced to sign a document which said they had entered Turkey from Greece.

Bodies washed up

They were then taken to the border and forced to try to wade across the Meric River.

Some of the migrants who have escaped back to Istanbul say the Greek border police would not allow them to enter and sent them back across the river.

Survivors say several people are missing after disappearing in the water, and they say local farmers told them that they have seen bodies washed up on the banks.

Human-rights groups have also received a number of reports from the migrants of rape and beating.

Stranded

The Turkish authorities say they have no information about the fate of the African migrants, some of whom are reported to be stranded in no man's land near the border.

One African migrant in Istanbul says he believes the group includes Kenyans, Ethiopians and Nigerians.

The Turkish Human Rights Association is now briefing international organisations, hoping to persuade them to intervene.

A spokesman for the office in Ankara of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says it is aware of the reports and it is investigating.