Clashes as Thousands of Migrants Are Stuck Outside Macedonia

IDOMENI, Greece— Greek riot police struggled to maintain order Thursday after chaotic clashes between asylum-seekers at the country’s border with Macedonia, where thousands seeking a new life in the European Union have seen their long trek north brou...

TOPSHOT - Stranded migrants and refugees stand in front of a Greek police cordon as they try to cross the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni, Greece on December 3, 2015. Macedonia has restricted passage to northern Europe to only Syrian, Iraqi and Afghan nationals who are considered war refugees. All other nationalities are deemed economic migrants and told to turn back. Over 1,500 people are stuck on the border, mostly Indian, Moroccan, Bangladeshi and Pakistani. / AFP / ARMEND NIMANI Photo credit should read ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images

IDOMENI, Greece—Greek riot police struggled to maintain order Thursday after chaotic clashes between asylum-seekers at the country’s border with Macedonia, where thousands seeking a new life in the European Union have seen their long trek north brought to an abrupt halt by closed borders and new rules.

At least two people were injured Thursday, Dec. 3, at the border as hundreds of people rejected by Macedonia—so-called economic migrants—clashed with the Syrians, Afghans, and Iraqis that Macedonia is allowing in.

Late Thursday, a group of mainly Iranian migrants with small children agreed to stop manning barricades that prevented refugees from entering Macedonia, and about 300 people crossed the border from the Greek village of Idomeni. Tired of waiting, thousands of refugees then broke through a Greek police cordon, surging to the Macedonian border, which immediately closed again.

Earlier, police distributed fliers warning the economic migrants that they must leave the border area within three days, and the government implied it would take more drastic action if necessary.

Greece faces mounting pressure from its EU partners to ensure better control of its borders and register arriving migrants.