Snow blankets Turkey's Istanbul

Flights in and out of Istanbul Airport were suspended until 4 a.m. Tuesday
(0100 GMT). Authorities worked to clear runways and a road leading to the
airport, where the roof of a facility used by Turkish Airlines' cargo
department collapsed from the weight of snow. No one was hurt.

Authorities in Istanbul also suspended intercity bus services and temporarily
blocked travel to the city from Turkey's Thrace region. People stranded on
roads abandoned vehicles to walk home or crowded subway and other public
transportation stations. Schools across Turkey are closed for a winter break,
but universities halted classes for two days. Public offices and shopping
malls closed early to ease rush-hour congestion.

Flurries were forecast to continue over the next few days in Istanbul. The
Turkish city's Disaster Coordination Center AKOM said an Icelandic
low-pressure system is behind the cold front and precipitation.