Germany's general deportation stop to Syria ought not to apply to criminals - Interior minister

FILE PHOTO: German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer is seen as German Chancellor Angela Merkel (not pictured) delivers a speech on the government's response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the country's parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, November 26, 2020. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer wants to exclude criminal offenders from Syria from a general stop of deportations that applies to the war torn country, a spokeswoman for the ministry said on Friday.

Seehofer aims to replace the existing rule by individual checks when criminal offenders are concerned, the spokeswoman said.