More than 1,000 Algerian passengers are stranded at Istanbul airport, its operator said Tuesday, as Ankara urged Algiers to allow flights to return the individuals stuck after the novel coronavirus outbreak. They have been unable to return because Algiers will not let them back into the country, according to IGA Airport Operations. "We, as IGA, Turkish Red Crescent, Turkish Airlines and Havas (bus company) have been trying to satisfy the humanitarian needs and requirements of over 1,000 Algerian visitors for several days now," the operator said in a statement on Twitter. "The Turkish government has been making efforts for a week now to persuade the Algerian government to grant landing rights for the affected flights." The North African country by Monday had confirmed 201 COVID-19 infections and 17 deaths. Turkey lofficials late Monday recorded 1,529 cases of coronavirus while 37 people have died. raz/fo/pvh