December 23, 2001	Sunday	Shawwal 7, 1422

ANKARA, Dec 22: Turkish security forces intercepted on Friday 222 would-be illegal immigrants and four people-smugglers attempting to cross into Greece by boat, the Anatolia news agency reported.

The group of Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Indians, Iraqis, Nigerians and Palestinians were stopped at two small towns in eastern Turkey near the Greek border, it said, adding that one of the smugglers had already been convicted of trafficking in immigrants.—AFP