Friday, January 22, 2016

Migrants' Boats Sink off Greek Coast Drowning 44; Germany Presses Turkey to Take in More Refugees

Forty-four people drowned after three refugee boats sank today (January 22, 2016) off the coast of Greece, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to press Turkey to play a bigger part in resolving Europe's escalating migrant crisis, according to the AFP (Agence France-Presse) website.

Germany and Turkey have emerged as crucial players in the biggest migration crisis to rock Europe since World War II, and both Merkel and visiting Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will seek to drive a hard bargain in Berlin where the two countries' cabinets are meeting.

The outcome of today's talks is not only important for Merkel -- who faces intense pressure at home to impose a cap on Germany's refugee intake -- but will also have resonance across Europe where public opinion is hardening against a record asylum seeker influx.

In a stark illustration of the high cost of the voyage, Greek and Turkish coastguards recovered the bodies of 44 migrants -- including 20 children -- whose boats capsized on their way to Greece, officials said today.

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