Migrants: Croatia refuses to become ‘hotspot’

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic called on the army to be on alert and act if needed to protect the border from the migrants, after chaos erupted Thursday on the border with Serbia in a rush to get on the few available buses and trains, the AP said.

Hungary’s foreign ministry has demanded information from Croatia, calling it a lie that some agreement had been reached by the Hungarian and Croatian interior ministers as Croatian police claimed.

Croatia threatened to close its border with Serbia on Thursday as migrants fled from overwhelmed police, trekked through fields and tried to steal into Slovenia by train in a desperate march westwards that is sowing discord and recrimination in Europe.

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic warned his country’s resources were limited, but refugees would not be prevented from passing through Croatia to other European countries.

Many hundreds have pushed through border guard lines and are now continuing their way through Croatia on a journey to western Europe. “We have hearts, but we also have heads”.

Countries are taking drastic measures, believing it will curb the number of migrants crossing into western parts of Europe.

Croatia sent more than 4,000 migrants to Hungary today after Zagreb officials said they did not have enough room to accommodate the staggering 17,000 that have arrived in the country.

Meanwhile, Slovenia has been returning migrants to Croatia and has stopped all rail traffic between the two countries.

Croatia has become the latest European country to feel the pressure of Europe’s migrant crisis as thousands of refugees pour in.

Croatia on Friday closed all border crossings with Serbia except one in an effort to control the flow which has strained authorities. There was also a stampede away from the border, following the riot police’s violent response.

But Despite the border closures, many continued entering Croatia through cornfields. Hungary and its eastern European neighbors oppose compulsory quotas, however, saying that they will attract more migrants.

Mr Avramopouls said he considered it a “Christian duty” to handle the migration crisis with compassion. Police have permission to arrest anyone entering the country and refugees have tear gas being fired at them.

But he says those not seeking asylum will be considered illegal immigrants.

“What else can we do?”

Sky’s Alex Crawford said it appeared busloads of migrants were now being taken from Hungary to registration camps on the Austrian border.