Slow crossing causes tension at FYROM border
Scuffles broke out early Monday between FYROM police and thousands of refugees and migrants attempting to head north toward Europe.
About 2,000 people had gathered at the Greek border near the village of Idomeni just after dawn, attempting to cross into Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. But FYROM authorities were allowing only small groups to cross every half hour, leading to tension. The situation later calmed after more were allowed to cross, with about 1,000 having passed the border by mid-day.
Greek police said about 5,000 people had crossed the border heading north in the 24 hours from Sunday morning to Monday morning.
Scuffles at the border have become near-daily as an increasing wave of people fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and parts of Asia have headed to Greece from Turkey, aiming to cross the Balkans overland toward Austria, Germany and Scandinavia. [AP]
