The Latest: UNHCR decries refugee rhetoric in US campaign
By Associated Press
Dec 8, 2015 5:49 AM CST
A Macedonian policeman denies the entrance in Macedonia, to a man who was found with fake identification documents, near the northern Greek village of Idomeni, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Macedonian authorities allow only refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq to cross their country as Greek police says...   (Associated Press)

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The latest developments as tens of thousands of people make their way to Europe and across the continent, seeking safety and a better life. All times local.

1:45 p.m.

The U.N. refugee agency says it's concerned about "the level of rhetoric" in the U.S. election campaign on issues like barring Muslims from entry or stopping resettlements of Syrian refugees, saying it could jeopardize an important U.S. resettlement program.

UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming declined to comment on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's call a day earlier for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."

She told reporters Tuesday that the U.S. has the world's largest refugee resettlement program, and Syrians are "the most scrutinized population." She noted a two-year screening process before they are fully admitted.

U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said Monday that those who refuse to accept Syrians because they are Muslims are unknowingly helping extremist groups to be more effective recruiters.

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1:10 p.m.

Turkey's state-run news agency says six children have drowned after a rubber dinghy carrying Afghan migrants to Greece sank off Turkey's Aegean coast.

The Anadolu Agency said the coast guard rescued five migrants from the sea on Tuesday and were still looking for two others reported missing.

The bodies of the children were recovered. Anadolu didn't report their ages, but said one of them was a baby.

The migrants were apparently hoping to make it to the island of Chios from the resort of Cesme despite bad weather.

Turkey has stepped up efforts to stop migrants from leaving to Greece by sea. Last week, authorities rounded up around 3,000 migrants in the town of Ayvacik, north of Cesme, who were believed to be waiting to make the journey to the Greek island of Lesbos.

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1 p.m.

A nationalist German party that has gained both support and criticism for tough talk on migrants is asking supporters for donations, saying planned changes in party financing rules could hurt its prospects.

Alternative for Germany initially focused on opposing eurozone bailouts but is now known mainly for opposing Europe's refugee influx. Its founding leader was ousted in July and left, but recent polls have given it support of up to 10 percent despite the split.

In a letter to members released Tuesday, leaders said planned new rules will affect its finances for 2017, an election year, and could mean it has to return money.

The party has been selling gold to supporters to get matching public funding. Under new rules, that income would no longer count.

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