Migrants attack Greece-Macedonia border fence
Migrants try to break through a border fence into Macedonia near the Greek village of Idomeni, on February 29 , 2016, where more than 7,000 people are stranded, as anger mounted over travel restrictions on migrants. The protest occurred several hours after Macedonia allowed just 300 Syrians and Iraqis to cross before resealing the frontier. PHOTO | AFP
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At least 30 people, including many children, requested first aid in the stampede that ensued, the charity Doctors Without Borders said.
IDOMENI, Greece
Hundreds of refugees Monday tried to break through a border fence into Macedonia from Greece, where more than 7,000 people are stranded, as anger mounted over barriers to entry imposed on migrants.
In a sign of widening divisions within the European Union, German Chancellor Angela Merkel meanwhile lashed out at Austria and Balkan states for abandoning debt-laden Athens to refugee chaos.
On the frontier, Macedonian police fired tear gas as a group of some 300 Iraqi and Syrians forced their way through a Greek police cordon and raced towards a railway track between the two countries.
“Open the borders!” they shouted as a group of men used a metal signpost to bring down a section of barbed wire fencing, prompting police to fire volleys of tear gas and preventing them from crossing.
At least 30 people, including many children, requested first aid in the stampede that ensued, the charity Doctors Without Borders said.
Skopje said one of its own policemen had been hurt and required hospitalisation.
The protest occurred several hours after Macedonia allowed just 300 Syrians and Iraqis to cross before resealing the frontier.
