Award-winning Syrian opposition activist denied US entry

BEIRUT (AP) — An award-winning Syrian opposition activist said on Thursday that he was turned back and denied entry into the United States a day before he was supposed to receive one of the most prestigious prize from peers for his volunteer work saving lives in his war-torn homeland.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency charged with determining admissibility of foreign nationals at U.S. ports of entry, is prohibited from discussing the specifics of an individual's admissibility review.

Saleh has met with U.S. and European officials and presented evidence of the Syrian government's use of chlorine in bombs.

Saleh was traveling Monday to receive a humanitarian award by InterAction — the largest U.S. alliance of non-governmental organizations.