Thousands head for Turkey amid Syrian-Russian bombardment

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Up to 250,000 Syrian are fleeing towards Turkey, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, as Russian and Syrian forces bombard the last rebel-held swathe of territory after Syria's nearly nine-year civil war.

Towns and villages have been pounded by Russian jets and Syrian artillery since a renewed government assault last month.

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The United Nations said 284,000 had fled their homes as of Monday, with winter weather exacerbating their plight.

Most have fled towards Turkey, which already hosts some 3.7 million -- the largest Syrian refugee population in the world.

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Erdogan said they were taking some measures to prevent another wave from crossing the border.

(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING (PARTY OVER AUDIENCE LISTENING):

"It's difficult, they are humans too. We cannot put barriers and barbed wire against humans like the West does."

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And this is what they're running from.

Eight people killed, including five children, when -- according to witnesses and medics -- Syrian army missiles struck a shelter for displaced families in the town of Sarmin.

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Moscow and Damascus have both previously denied allegations of indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas, saying they are fighting Al Qaeda inspired militants.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to recapture Idlib, though Turkey has long supported the rebels and has 12 military posts in the area.