Turkey will not close doors to Syrian refugees: PM

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Turkey will not close its doors to refugees fleeing the repression in Syria, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday as he expressed his sadness about unrest across the border. Erdogan, who has become increasingly critical of the President Bashar al-Assad's regime, also urged authorities in Damascus to demonstrate more tolerance towards its civilians.

A group of around 120 Syrian refugees crossed over into Turkey late Tuesday, most of them from the northwestern town of Jisr al-Shughur where there are fears of a backlash after officials said 120 policemen had been killed there.

Erdogan, speaking to reporters, said that there were no plans to stem any flow of refugees crossing into southern Turkey. "At this point, it is out of question for us to close the doors," Erdogan was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency. "The developments in Syria are really sad, we are following them with concern," he added, reiterating a call for Assad to implement more democratic reforms. "We wish Syria to be more tolerant to civillians and (further) the reform steps he has already taken, as soon as possible in a more convincing way."

In April, Ankara sent envoys to Damascus to press Assad to take steps for democratisation, offering expertise for political and economic overhaul. More than 1,100 civilians have been killed in Syria and at least 10,000 arrested in a brutal crackdown on almost daily street demonstrations that have simmered since March 15, rights organisations say.