122 Syrians cross into Turkey after clashes: report

A total of 122 Syrians crossed into Turkey Wednesday to flee the unrest in the border town of Jisr al- Shughour in north Syria, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

The refugees, including women and children, entered Turkey through the Altinozu town in the southern Turkish province of Hatay and were taking shelter in a camp set up by the Red Crescent in the Yayladagi district of Hatay, the agency reported.

Many Syrians were waiting at villages near the Turkish-Syrian border and the Turkish military had taken precautions along the border, the report said, quoting unnamed officials, Xinhua reported.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Wednesday implied that Turkey may conduct security checks on the Syrian refugees.

"We have done all preparations for a massive flow of crossings, " he said in an interview with local NTV news channel, "we have to determine their intention of seeking refugee."

A Turkish Foreign Ministry official told Xinhua Wednesday that nearly 420 people had entered Turkey from Syria since the protests broke out in the country in March.

Syria has been in unrest for more than two months after the anti-government demonstrations started in the southern province of Daraa. The protests have spread to several other Syrian cities, leading to the death of both protesters and policemen.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has responded to the country's unprecedented anti-government protests by offering some concessions, including lifting the state of emergency which had been in place since 1963, releasing hundreds of political detainees and reshuffling the government.

In the latest development, the Syrian government said up to 120 security personnel were killed in the town of Jisr al-Shughour on Monday during attacks by armed gangs.

A Turkish diplomat told Xinhua Tuesday that 35 Syrians wounded in the clashes were being treated at Turkish hospitals after crossing the Syrian border.