Italian border police on Wednesday intercepted a boat off the coast of Calabria which was carrying 160 people who are believed to have fled fighting in Syria.

The craft was carrying 68 men, 25 women and 65 minors.

The migrants have been transported to the Isola di Capo Rizzuto temporary detention camp for identification

Two Turkish nationals were also arrested.

Thousands of Syrians are continuing to flee the escalating violence in their country, seeking safety in neighbouring countries.

More than 200,000 Syrians have fled to neighbouring Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey and hundreds of thousands more are displaced within Syria.

Syria's uprising started in March 2011 with peaceful protests calling for political reforms that were met with a fierce regime crackdown. Government brutality grew as dissent spread, and many in the opposition took up arms as the conflict morphed into a civil war.

The Syrian government blames the uprising on armed gangs and "terrorists" backed by foreign powers that seek to weaken Syria.

[AP]