Hundreds of migrants mass on Slovenia border

HARMICA, Croatia – Hundreds of migrants gathered on Croatia’s main border crossings with Slovenia on Saturday, September 19, seeking transit through Slovenian territory in their bid to travel to northern Europe, Agence France-Presse reporters and local media said.

Around a thousand refugees spent the night in the open at the Bregana crossing on Croatia’s northwestern border, state-run HRT TV reported.

At the crossing point of Harmica, several dozen migrants faced off with a cordon of riot police on the frontier bridge, demanding that Slovenian police let them enter the country, an Agence France-Presse reporter saw.

Late Friday, September 18, a policeman used tear gas against migrants who had sought to push through the police line.

Slovenia on Friday said it was considering “corridors” for refugees through its territory and would take in up to 10,000 refugees.

Croatia, after first declaring an open-door policy to the migrants, said it had reached saturation point after more than 14,000 people arrived in 48 hours.

It said it had begun channelling the flow towards its northeastern border with Hungary.

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, in a visit to Beli Manastir near the Hungarian border Saturday, said his country would continue to redirect migrants to Hungary.

“There has not been an agreement with Hungary,” Milanovic said. “We have in some way compelled them to accept the refugees by sending them (to the border) and we will continue to do so.” – Rappler.com