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| Migrants arrive in Austria after Hungary provides buses | Migrants arrive in Austria after Hungary provides buses |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of migrants have crossed into Austria, after Hungary's surprise decision to provide buses to take them to the border overnight. | Thousands of migrants have crossed into Austria, after Hungary's surprise decision to provide buses to take them to the border overnight. |
| For days, the Hungarian government had blocked them from travelling by train to northern and western Europe. | For days, the Hungarian government had blocked them from travelling by train to northern and western Europe. |
| About 4,000 exhausted people, many of whom had initially fled Syria, crossed the Austrian border and are being received in a Red Cross Centre. | |
| Austria says they can claim asylum or carry on to Germany if they wish. | Austria says they can claim asylum or carry on to Germany if they wish. |
| The move comes as European Union countries are struggling to agree on how to deal with an unprecedented surge of asylum seekers. | The move comes as European Union countries are struggling to agree on how to deal with an unprecedented surge of asylum seekers. |
| Hungary's government eased restrictions on transit after many migrants overwhelmed police cordons and set off towards the border on foot on Friday. | Hungary's government eased restrictions on transit after many migrants overwhelmed police cordons and set off towards the border on foot on Friday. |
| Buses began picking up migrants from Keleti station in central Budapest, where thousands had been camped. | Buses began picking up migrants from Keleti station in central Budapest, where thousands had been camped. |
| Vehicles were also sent to take those who had decided to walk along a motorway to Austria. | Vehicles were also sent to take those who had decided to walk along a motorway to Austria. |
| On Saturday Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told the BBC there would be no more buses or trains to take the migrants on to Austria. | On Saturday Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs told the BBC there would be no more buses or trains to take the migrants on to Austria. |
| He said the transport had been arranged as a one-off, because of fears for the migrants' safety. | He said the transport had been arranged as a one-off, because of fears for the migrants' safety. |
| On Saturday morning about 200 people remained at Keleti station, where a major clean-up was under way. | On Saturday morning about 200 people remained at Keleti station, where a major clean-up was under way. |
| When the buses arrived, some of the migrants argued with officials, fearful they would be arrested rather than sent to Germany, the BBC's Matthew Price reported. | When the buses arrived, some of the migrants argued with officials, fearful they would be arrested rather than sent to Germany, the BBC's Matthew Price reported. |
| But early on Saturday, groups began crossing the border on foot. Some Austrians displayed welcome signs. | But early on Saturday, groups began crossing the border on foot. Some Austrians displayed welcome signs. |
| Austrian Red Cross workers at a makeshift centre greeted them with blankets and tea. | Austrian Red Cross workers at a makeshift centre greeted them with blankets and tea. |
| "I feel [at] home," said Ayaz Morad, one of the first to arrive. "This is a great land - nice people, nice government." | "I feel [at] home," said Ayaz Morad, one of the first to arrive. "This is a great land - nice people, nice government." |
| The migrants are now being taken by train from the Austrian border town of Nickelsdorf to the capital Vienna. | |
| Many hope to travel on to Germany, which says it expects 6,000 people to arrive over the weekend. | |
| 'Exhausted, but smiling': Bethany Bell, BBC News, Austrian-Hungarian border | 'Exhausted, but smiling': Bethany Bell, BBC News, Austrian-Hungarian border |
| They crossed into Austria on foot - the Hungarian buses stopped before reaching the border and they had to walk the final stretch. | They crossed into Austria on foot - the Hungarian buses stopped before reaching the border and they had to walk the final stretch. |
| There were children and at least one man in a wheelchair. | There were children and at least one man in a wheelchair. |
| They were exhausted. Some of them were limping, but many were smiling broadly - relieved to have finally left Hungary. | They were exhausted. Some of them were limping, but many were smiling broadly - relieved to have finally left Hungary. |
| "Where are we?" one man shouted. "Austria," I replied. "Good," he said. | "Where are we?" one man shouted. "Austria," I replied. "Good," he said. |
| Germany has said it expects to take in 800,000 people this year. | Germany has said it expects to take in 800,000 people this year. |
| Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann said that after talks with his German counterpart Angela Merkel, the two countries would allow in the migrants due to the "emergency situation" in Hungary. | Austria's Chancellor Werner Faymann said that after talks with his German counterpart Angela Merkel, the two countries would allow in the migrants due to the "emergency situation" in Hungary. |
| But he said he expected Hungary to respect any EU quotas for asylum seekers - something Hungary, along with the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, has rejected. | But he said he expected Hungary to respect any EU quotas for asylum seekers - something Hungary, along with the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, has rejected. |
| Hungary has become a major transit nation for people fleeing the Middle East and Africa, and seeking to reach north and west Europe. | Hungary has become a major transit nation for people fleeing the Middle East and Africa, and seeking to reach north and west Europe. |
| The Hungarian parliament on Friday approved tougher border controls and penalties for migrants, underlining divisions within the EU on how to tackle the crisis. | The Hungarian parliament on Friday approved tougher border controls and penalties for migrants, underlining divisions within the EU on how to tackle the crisis. |
| Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said the surge in arrivals was "Germany's problem", since that was where most people wanted to go. | Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said the surge in arrivals was "Germany's problem", since that was where most people wanted to go. |
| But Chancellor Merkel has called for refugees to be fairly divided among EU members. | But Chancellor Merkel has called for refugees to be fairly divided among EU members. |
| At the scene: Matthew Price, BBC News | At the scene: Matthew Price, BBC News |
| Our correspondent has been walking with hundreds of migrants who attempted to travel on foot to Austria. | Our correspondent has been walking with hundreds of migrants who attempted to travel on foot to Austria. |
| Are you among those trying to reach Austria? Have you been involved in these events? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. | Are you among those trying to reach Austria? Have you been involved in these events? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |