Vecer: Migrants pull down border fence in attempt to enter Macedonia

The group, comprised mainly of Algerians, Pakistanis and Moroccans, were part of the estimated 1,500 migrants who have been stuck near Greece’s northern border town of Idomeni, waiting for their opportunity to proceed to the wealthier countries of northern Europe.

About a hundred of migrants, who have been blocked at the Macedonian-Greek border for seven days, pulled down the border fence and tried to forcibly enter the territory of Macedonia, Macedonian Vecer daily writes.

Balkan countries have clamped down at their borders to stem the largely unchecked stream of people, leaving tens of thousands stranded in Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia. But there were signs on Tuesday that the tide was starting to ebb somewhat – although relief officials cautioned that it was too early to declare a trend.

“UNHCR staff on Lesbos (island) report that over 40 dinghies carrying an estimated 2,000 refugees and migrants arrived last night (Monday) and today”, United Nations refugee agency spokesman William Spindler told Reuters.

The International Organization for Migration said Friday that the number of people crossing daily topped 5,000 on Wednesday after dropping to just 155 on Sunday. The weather is cold.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – The latest on the mass movement of asylum-seekers and others seeking refuge in Europe.

They might have to wait for a while, however, as Balkan countries have implemented tougher rules on who qualifies for refugee status.

About six men, some believed to be from Iran’s Kurdish minority, sewed their lips shut as a mark of their refusal to turn back toward their home countries. “Proper information needs to be provided to people affected by decisions at border points, and proper counselling needs to be available”, he said.

Investigators say that two of the terrorists who carried out the Paris attacks in which more than 120 people have died reached France via Greece by pretending to be refugees, although their identities remain to be unknown.

Most of the protesters are from Pakistan, Iran, Morocco and Bangladesh. The migrants’ strike was held near the Idomeni Greek checkpoint.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry official said on Thursday that some officers at European borders have meted out “inappropriate treatment” to refugees and asylum seekers.

Milad, a twenty-year-old from Iranian Kurdistan said going back to Iran was not an option for him and his companions “If we go back we will be tortured and executed”, he told VICE News.

So far, only 148 refugees have been relocated from Italy and Greece to other European Union countries under a plan for transferring 160,000 agreed by European Union leaders in September.