Germany: Refugee numbers up by one fourth

Germany says the number of refugees seeking asylum there has shot up by more than a quarter since the beginning of the year.

The interior ministry says 18,946 foreigners sought asylum in Germany between January and July, an increase of 3,918 or 26.1 percent on the same period last year.

It says most refugees _ more than 3,000 each _ came from Iraq and Afghanistan, and a little more than 1,000 from Iran. Other important countries of origin include Somalia, Serbia, Kosovo, Turkey, Syria, Russia, and Vietnam.

The ministry said Wednesday the number of refugees in July rose by 16.7 percent compared to a month earlier, with Afghans topping the list.