Syria has persuaded about 800 Iraqi refugees to return to their homeland.

Syria has struggled to cope with the 1.5 million Iraqis who have sought refuge there, and it has recently tightened visa rules.

About 800 people have travelled in a convoy of buses, joining the steady stream of refugees who have crossed the border back into Iraq in recent months.

Iraq's ambassador to Syria, Hassan Abdul Aziz, said people were returning because the security situation had improved.

But the UNHCR says some of the refugees are simply returning because they have run out of money or have been unable to renew their visas.

The organisation says, while it will help anyone wishing to return to Iraq, it is still too early for large-scale repatriation.