Syria: Turkey says it's hosting 45,000 refugees

Ankara, 3 Aug. (AKI) - Fierce fighting has prompted 45 000 Syrian to flee to Turkey, according to the Turkish government, cited in local media agencies.

Seventeen months of violence has killed at least 20,000 people in a conflict that has snowballed into a civil war.

Turkey, Syria's neighbour to the north, allows a rebel force of Syrian military deserters to operate from its territory.