Officials in the EU have urged Turkey to let in tens of thousands of Syrian refugees trapped on its border at Kilis after fleeing fighting. EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said there was a moral, if not legal, duty to provide protection. Turkey says the refugees are receiving food and shelter inside Syria and there is no need to allow them to cross. About 35,000 Syrians have fled a Syrian government offensive on rebel-held positions near Aleppo.

Ms Mogherini said, the EU was providing funding to Turkey to make sure it had the means, the instruments, the resources to protect and to host people that are seeking asylum.