Tear gas forces back migrants at Hungary-Serbia border

With the border mostly sealed, though, thousands of migrants were stuck in Serbia, but others were seeking new paths on their way to Western Europe, some choosing to take the longer route through Croatia. Reuters reporters did not see any armed migrants, but television pictures showed some people throwing objects at police over the fence.

The Facebook site, called “Dear Refugees: Welcome to Croatia”, said, in English and Arabic: “If you’re about to make the trip to Europe through Croatia please read here”.

Speaking to parliament on Wednesday morning, Zoran Milanovic said his government was “entirely ready to receive or direct” refugees and that they are working “intensively” to enable refugees to pass through Croatia.

Before the tensions escalated, some women had pushed to the front of the crowd and held small babies and children above their heads as they faced police in an obvious appeal for mercy, but no-one made it through.

“And I asked the people filming themselves about this and they said, yup, we’re going to send those back to our families in Syria, so they know what’s going on”.

Tens of thousands of refugees and migrants have crossed the border in this area to enter the Europe Union’s Schengen zone, which normally allows people to travel between member countries without restrictions. Hungarian police accused “aggressive” refugees of trying to breach the border fence.

Police said they would be transferred after registration to reception centers near the Croatian capital, Zagreb, which is only 30 kilometers from Slovenia.

The refugees are expected to travel through the former Yugoslav republics to reach Austria.

Many migrants are crying from the tear gas.

She added that the meeting could be held on September 18 at the earliest.

The clashes occurred after Hungary sealed its southern border with Serbia, cutting off one of the biggest entry points for migrants into the European Union this year.

Gyorgy Bakondi, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief advisor, said that an hour before, the migrants had issued an “ultimatum” to police.

Austria has begun selective controls of vehicles at three main border crossings with Hungary as it tries to impose some order over the stream of refugees and other migrants from that country.

With the onset of violence, Hungary urged Serbia to act against migrants “attacking” its police force.

“The Greek islands continue to be under an intense migratory pressure”.