Hungarian riot police yesterday fired tear gas and water cannon to force migrants back from the Serbia-Hungary border.
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Fourteen police were injured, officials said.
“I accompanied one group of several dozen people along this way”, says Delauney.
CNN’s Ivan Watson witnessed a Croatian police officer greeting migrants by saying, “Come on guys, don’t be scared”, before they climbed into a waiting police van.
Hungary’s foreign minister denied that closed borders and tough new laws signal callousness toward refugees, repeating the government’s claim that most of those entering Hungary are actually economic migrants.
Thousands of people were pouring into Croatia on Thursday, turning it into the latest hotspot in the 1600-kilometre plus exodus toward Western Europe after Hungary used tear gas, batons and water cannons to keep refugees out.
The crowds, who were chanting “we want to go”, had gathered in the baking heat to wait for transport on from the border.
A girl cries after coming in contact with tear gas during clashes between migrants and Hungarian police at the border with Serbia and near the town of Horgos.
“We have passed too much to give up now”.
The crisis began when Hungary closed the border with Serbia in effect cutting off the so-called West Balkan migrant trail early on Tuesday.
Vulin said that Serbia has already warned that such a situation may happen since a great number of people are crammed in a small area and are not able to satisfy their basic needs, let alone seek asylum.
Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said on Wednesday that the newest European Union member state would allow refugees to transit through to their next destination.
“We have seen 140,000 migrants cross our country and only 550 have applied for asylum in Serbia”.
Hungarian police accused “aggressive” refugees of trying to breach the border fence.
Hungary also deployed three military vehicles mounted with guns some 100 to 200 metres (yards) from the border, an AFP reporter at the scene said.
Croatian authorities reported Thursday that more than 6,000 people had entered the country in the past day, putting a strain on resources.
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While lauding German leadership in tackling Europe’s migrant crisis, the former British foreign secretary said that Hungary’s decision to erect a razor-wire fence to stop the influx of migrants was “misguided and short-sighted, and when it’s combined with bullyboy tactics it’s obviously appalling”.
