The number of Syrians taking shelter in southern Turkish province of Hatay has reached 13,000, Turkish semi-official Anatolia news agency quoted officials as saying on Tuesday.

Another 88 Syrians crossed the border into Turkey early Tuesday through the Yayladagi and Reyhanli towns of Hatay, trying to flee the clashes in their homeland, said the officials, adding that about 3,000 Syrians have entered Turkey during the last month.

The refugees were settled in tents set up by the Turkish Red Crescent, according to the report.

Turkey, once a close ally of Syria, has repeatedly called on Damascus to stop violence against civilians and has imposed on Syria a series of sanctions, including an arms embargo, in protest of the Syrian government's alleged crackdown on opposing forces.