NEWS

Migrants try to break through Greece-FYROM

Migrants try to break through Greece-FYROM

Over 200 migrants on Thursday tried to break through barbed wire fences on Greece’s border with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), throwing stones at police, AFP reporters said.

At least five of the migrants managed to get across in the assault as the crowd shouted "Open the border" to the FYROM police ranged across them.

All five were returned to the Greek side by FYROM police.

Since last week, FYROM has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back.

Some 800 people are stuck on the border, mostly Iranians, Moroccans, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis.

They have spent days at Idomeni sleeping on the ground, with humanitarian organisations struggling to provide basic sanitation and shelter.

Some 850,000 people have entered the European Union this year, more than half of them landing in Greece, and the bloc has struggled to formulate a strategy to deal with the crisis.

The security backlash has intensified after at least two of the bombers in the November 13 attacks in Paris were confirmed to have come through Greece, posing as refugees. [AFP]

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