Finland to close border with Russia again - Finnish interior minister

BRUSSELS. Dec 14 (Interfax) - The Finnish authorities have decided to close the border with Russia again, Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said on Thursday.

The government will fully close the border with Russia, Rantanen was reported by the Yle news outlet as telling the country's parliament.

Finland will close the checkpoints which opened earlier on Thursday, it said.

It did not say when exactly the border will be closed.

The government will formally announce the decision at a press conference later on Thursday.

Asylum seekers started to arrive as soon as Finland opened the checkpoints, Yle said. The border crossings that opened on Thursday are at Vaalimaa and Niirala, and asylum seekers immediately arrived at the eastern border, the minister said.