German Chancellor Angela Merkel left for Ankara on Monday to discuss measures to stem the flow of refugees bound for Europe, as tens of thousands of Syrians remained stranded at the border with Turkey after fleeing a Russia-backed government offensive in Aleppo.

Merkel will hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in the Turkish capital on Monday.

Erdogan said Turkey was ready "if necessary" to let in Syrian refugees trapped on its border.

Source: MENA