New clashes between migrants, Macedonian police at border with Greece

Macedonian police used tear gas Sunday to stop several hundred migrants from the border camp Idomeni in neighboring Greece to cross illegally onto Macedonian territory.

The migrants threw stones at the police forces. Three Macedonian police officers were reportedly injured in the clashes and they were transported to the Medical Center in Gevgelija, the Macedonian Ministry of Interior confirmed.

Local media reported that some of the migrants are injured as well, but still there is no official confirmation to this information.

"There was an attempt to break the fence at the border this morning. The migrants were violent, they threw stones and other objects," the Macedonian Ministry of Interior reported.

"They damaged the fence on three places trying to enter Macedonian territory by force. The police intervened and used chemical devices -- tear gas to stop them," the Ministry added.

Because of this incident, the presence of the police and military security forces at the border was additionally increased.

The Macedonian-Greek border has been closed since February in accordance to the EU plan to seal off the so-called Balkan route.

Still more than 10,000 migrants remain in the camp Idomeni on Greek territory. They refuse to return in hope that they will be left to continue their journey across Macedonia towards Western Europe.

According to humanitarian activists working in the area, the situation at the border escalated on Sunday because a number of buses arrived in Idomeni.

Refusing to return from their planned route, hundred migrants tried to breach the fence and continue into Macedonia.

Source: XINHUA