The number of people seeking asylum in Germany fell sharply in the first half of the year as tougher rules at home and border-closures abroad started to kick in, the interior ministry said on Friday. "I wouldn't hold my breath that this will remain so in the coming months," Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters. Border closers throughout the Balkans, an EU-Turkey deal to stop sea arrivals in Greece and tougher asylum rules in Germany were among the main reasons, officials said.