Ivo Kotevski

Macedonia blocks migrants on border with Greece

The government said it is deploying troops as it tries to stem a surge of migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Macedonian police spokesman Ivo Kotevski said both police and the army will control the 50-kilometer (30 mile) stretch of the border in order to stop a "massive" influx of migrants coming from Greece.

Macedonian police arrest 9 suspected IS fighters, seek 27

Interior ministry spokesman Ivo Kotevski told The Associated Press Thursday that all those arrested are Macedonian nationals. They are suspected of being volunteers or recruiters for the group to fight in Syria and Iraq.

Islamic State is banned in Macedonia, where participation of the country's citizens in overseas militant groups carries a sentence of at least four years in prison.