Turkey arrests 21 children on Syria border

Turkish forces have detained at least 21 children and 23 suspected Islamic State group fighters, who were trying to illegally enter the country from Syria.

The suspects, whose nationalities were not disclosed, were captured over the weekend as they tried to enter the Elbeyli district of Turkey's southern Kilis province.

"Twenty-three people suspected of being [IS] terror group members, together with 21 children, were caught," said the army in a statement on Sunday, without giving any other details.

It followed the detention of six IS suspects, along with eight children on Friday, who were also reportedly caught trying to cross illegally from Syria to Turkey in the same area.

Turkey has over the past year been told by its Western allies to urgently step up efforts to stop the flow of extremists across its borders to and from Syria.

After a string of deadly attacks inside Turkey blamed on IS in recent months, Ankara has intensified efforts to improve border security, with the army reporting the capture of IS militants almost daily.

After a string of deadly attacks inside Turkey blamed on Islamic State group in the last months, Ankara has intensified efforts to improve border security, with the army reporting the capture of IS militants almost daily

The arrests come as European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini expressed confidence that Turkey would soon receive a package of three billion euros ($3.2 billion) for mainly Syrian refugees, despite a delay of almost two months since the funds were agreed.

Mogherini, leading a high-level delegation to Ankara for talks with the Turkish leadership, said discussions were ongoing on the disbursement of the funds but played down reports they were being held up by disagreements.

The financial aid is the centrepiece of a deal agreed with Ankara on November 29 for the EU to step up support for Syrian and other refugees in Turkey in exchange for the Turkish authorities cutting the flow of migrants to Europe.

Media reports have suggested that Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, in particular, was blocking the disbursement of the funds to Turkey.

But Mogherini said she wanted to play down "this dramatic approach" over the issue, emphasising that the funds were "not pocket money".

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu also sought to urge calm over the delay, saying: "We don't take it personally."

"But any delay is affecting daily life of the refugees, schooling and medical needs," he added.

Turkey is currently playing host to at least 2.2 million refugees from the almost five-year conflict in Syria and has repeatedly complained that the West failed to provide adequate financial help.

But Brussels now wants to encourage Turkey to keep the refugees inside its territory, after hundreds of thousands of migrants crossed into the EU in 2015, raising tensions in EU member nations.