Bono hails Turkey help on Syrian refugees

Ankara: The lead singer of Irish rock band U2 Bono has hailed the contribution of Turkey in hosting Syrian refugees as a "lesson to the world" in a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, the premier's office said Sunday.

With Turkey preparing to host migrants send back from Greece under a controversial EU deal from Monday, Bono praised the country's tolerance in hosting over 2.7 million Syrian refugees.

"I am very humbled by the generosity of the Turkish people. It is extraordinary. it is a lesson in grace," Bono said at the meeting at the Cankaya Palace in central Ankara.

"Years into the (Syria) conflict, in every town and city people are welcomed," he said in the footage posted on the premier's official You Tube channel, describing Turkey's work as a "lesson to the world".

The Turkish foreign ministry on Saturday angrily denied claims by Amnesty International that Turkey was now forcibly returning around one hundred refugees to Syria per day.

"I am sure it (hosting refugees) puts a strain on people, I am sure people get fed up but they don't give up," said Bono, who is heavily involved in charitable work for refugees in Africa.

"The world needs to understand the strains and stresses it puts on the Turkish people," he said.

Davutoglu, who was joined by his wife Sare, insisted there had not been a "a single anti-Arab, anti Syrian, anti-refugee protest" since Turkey began hosting the refugees when the Syrian civil war began.

Turkey is expected Monday to take in hundreds of migrants from Greece under a scheme which will see it send one Syrian refugee to Europe for every one it takes back from Greece.