Syria's information minister on Thursday said Europe should bear full responsibility for the flood of Syrian refugees streaming into the continent because of its past policies in backing those fighting to overthrow the government in Damascus.

The minister, Omran al-Zoubi, said in a rare comment from Damascus, that the migrants are mostly fleeing from areas held by rivals of President Bashar Assad's government, including the Islamic State group.

His remarks, carried by state media, say European countries, "which sent terrorists" to Syria and imposed economic sanctions on the Syrian people, must take responsibility for their anti-Syria policies.