Over 90 irregular migrants held in Turkey

BALIKESIR/EDIRNE/IZMIR, Turkey

At least 91 migrants were held in Turkey on Thursday, according to security sources.

In the northwestern province of Balikesir, the gendarmerie rounded up nine Afghan nationals, who were illegally attempting to cross to Greek island of Lesbos, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to media restrictions, said.

One Iranian national was arrested on charges of human smuggling, the source added.

In Edirne, another northwestern province, the gendarmerie arrested 34 migrants -- Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals -- after stopping a vehicle near the Greek border. The driver was arrested on human smuggling charges.

Separately, the Turkish Coast Guard held 48 migrants off the western Izmir province.

Among the migrants were Palestinian, Iraqi and Syrian nationals.

The migrants, including women and children, were rescued by the authorities after the dinghies they are on began to take water in.

Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross to Europe, especially since 2011, the beginning of Syria's civil war.

Reporting by Suat Salgin, Ramazan Ercan and Hakan Mehmet Sahin:Writing by Suat Salgin, Ramazan Ercan and Hakan Mehmet Sahin