Istanbul, Dec 23 (TIWN) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that his country cannot handle a "new refugee wave" from Syria, adding that the fresh influx would be "felt by all European countries".

Tens of thousands of people have fled towards the Turkish border amid increased bombardment of the rebel-held Idlib province in north-west Syria.

Turkey already hosts some 3.7 million Syrian refugees - the largest refugee population in the world.

Mr Erdogan warned that a new influx would be "felt by all European countries".

Up to three million people live in Idlib province, the last major region in Syria still held by rebel fighters and jihadists opposed to President Bashar al-Assad.