Official says Syrian refugee flood into Turkey hits 100,000 as Islamic State group advances


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KUCUK KENDIRCILER, Turkey (AP) — The head of Turkey's disaster management agency says the number of refugees seeking shelter in Turkey from the Islamic State group's advance across northern Syria has hit 100,000.

The refugees, most of them ethnic Kurds, began fleeing this week when Islamic State extremists began capturing villages. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says group has taken control of 64 villages since Wednesday.

A defense official in Syria's Kurdish region says there has been heavy fighting today, and the Islamic State group is bombarding villagers with tanks, artillery and multiple rocket launchers.

But as refugees flooded in, Turkey has closed a key border crossing. Local police say they are trying to prevent Kurdish fighters from entering Syria.

Kurds inside Turkey have scuffled with security forces. The state-run Anadolu Agency reports Kurdish protesters hurled stones. Security forces fired tear gas, paint pellets and water cannons.

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APPHOTO XBO160: Turkish soldiers stand guard as Syrian refugees gather at the border in Suruc, Turkey, late Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. Several thousand Syrians, most of them Kurds, crossed into Turkey on Friday to find refuge from Islamic State militants who have barreled through dozens of Kurdish villages in northern Syria in the past 48 hours.(AP Photo) (20 Sep 2014)

<<APPHOTO XBO160 (09/20/14)££

APPHOTO XBO159: Turkish soldiers stand guard as a Syrian refugee boy carries his belongings at the border in Suruc, Turkey, late Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. Several thousand Syrians, most of them Kurds, crossed into Turkey on Friday to find refuge from Islamic State militants who have barreled through dozens of Kurdish villages in northern Syria in the past 48 hours.(AP Photo) (20 Sep 2014)

<<APPHOTO XBO159 (09/20/14)££

APPHOTO XBO117: Several hundred Syrian refugees wait to cross into Turkey at the border in Suruc, Turkey, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. Turkey opened its border Saturday to allow in up to 60,000 people who massed on the Turkey-Syria border, fleeing the Islamic militants' advance on Kobani.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) (21 Sep 2014)

<<APPHOTO XBO117 (09/21/14)££

APPHOTO XBO116: Turkish soldiers stand guard as several hundred Syrian refugees wait at the border in Suruc, Turkey, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. Turkey opened its border Saturday to allow in up to 60,000 people who massed on the Turkey-Syria border, fleeing the Islamic militants' advance on Kobani.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) (21 Sep 2014)

<<APPHOTO XBO116 (09/21/14)££

APPHOTO XBO115: A Turkish soldier sits guard as several hundred Syrian refugees wait at the border in Suruc, Turkey, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. Turkey opened its border Saturday to allow in up to 60,000 people who massed on the Turkey-Syria border, fleeing the Islamic militants' advance on Kobani.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) (21 Sep 2014)

<<APPHOTO XBO115 (09/21/14)££

APPHOTO XBO102: Turkish security forces use teargas and water cannons to disperse protesting local people, as several hundred Syrian refugees wait at the border in Suruc, Turkey, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. Turkey opened its border Saturday to allow in up to 60,000 people who massed on the Turkey-Syria border, fleeing the Islamic militants' advance on Kobani.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) (21 Sep 2014)

<<APPHOTO XBO102 (09/21/14)££

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