The Syrian plane on the tarmac at Turkey's Esenboga airport

BBC

A Syrian-bound plane intercepted by Turkey was carrying Russian-made defence equipment destined for Syria's defence ministry, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

"Passenger aircraft can't carry ammunition, and defence equipment," Erdogan said, adding, "unfortunately there was such equipment on board".

Turkish jets forced the plane, coming from Moscow, to land in Ankara, reports the BBC.

Syria and Russia have denied allegations of an illegal cargo.

They have accused Turkey of putting lives in danger.

The Syrian Air Airbus A320, with about 30 passengers on board, was intercepted on Wednesday evening by two Turkish fighters and escorted to the capital's Esenboga airport.

Turkey said previously it had received an intelligence tip-off that it had illegal cargo on board.

Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Erdogan said "equipment and ammunition shipped to the Syrian defense ministry" had been recovered from the plane and was being examined.

He said "the necessary will follow," Associated Press reports.

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Turkey is determined to stop any transfer of weapons to Syria through its airspace.

Russia's state arms supplier Rosoboronexport had earlier said it had no information about the plane's cargo and denied it had any connection with the flight or anything on board.