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Migrant crisis: Tensions rise as Balkan path blocked Migrant crisis: Tensions rise as Balkan path blocked
(35 minutes later)
Tensions are building among thousands of migrants heading north through Balkan states as their route to Western Europe is stalled by new controls. Tensions are building among thousands of migrants heading north through Balkan states as their route to western Europe is stalled by new controls.
Croatia had asked its northern neighbour Slovenia to accept 5,000 migrants daily, but Slovenia said it would only take half that number. Many spent Sunday night in the cold and rain as Slovenia restricted the numbers it allows in from Croatia.
The move has led to a build-up of people on Croatia's border with Serbia. Restrictions on the flow have produced bottlenecks on Croatia's borders with Slovenia and Serbia.
An official told the BBC that Croatia could run out of room in its transit camps within days.An official told the BBC that Croatia could run out of room in its transit camps within days.
Buses crammed with people were backed up in Serbia on Sunday, and tempers flared between frustrated migrants and overstretched police officers. Croatia had asked its northern neighbour Slovenia to accept 5,000 migrants daily, but Slovenia said it would only take half that number.
Overnight, many were forced to wait in the cold and the rain. Slovenia blamed Austrian restrictions to the north, but Austria denies imposing limits.
Thousands of asylum seekers are travelling north through the Balkans, with most aiming to reach Austria, Germany and other EU states. At Trnovec, on the Croatia-Slovenia border, migrants strung blankets between trees for shelter. Some used branches for firewood.
Between 1,800 and 2,000 spent the night on a train held on the Croatian side of the border.
Officials offered them the chance to stay temporarily in Croatia or told them they could try to make their own way into Slovenia.
Thousands of asylum seekers, from Syria, Africa and Afghanistan, are travelling north through the Balkans, with most aiming to reach Austria, Germany and other EU states.
Hungary, citing security concerns, has closed its borders with Serbia and Croatia, forcing migrants to switch to a slower route via Slovenia.Hungary, citing security concerns, has closed its borders with Serbia and Croatia, forcing migrants to switch to a slower route via Slovenia.
Explaining Slovenia's new restrictions on Sunday, Interior Ministry State Secretary Bostjan Sefic said its northern neighbour Austria was only accepting a maximum of 1,500 people a day.Explaining Slovenia's new restrictions on Sunday, Interior Ministry State Secretary Bostjan Sefic said its northern neighbour Austria was only accepting a maximum of 1,500 people a day.
He said that Slovenia "cannot accept unlimited numbers of migrants if we know that they cannot continue their journey".He said that Slovenia "cannot accept unlimited numbers of migrants if we know that they cannot continue their journey".
"If we would accept 5,000 migrants per day, that would mean 35,000 would be in Slovenia in 10 days," he said. "That would be unacceptable." But a spokesman for the Austrian Interior Ministry, Karl Heinz Grundboeck, told the BBC that Austria was continuing to allow in migrants from Slovenia.
He said were no specific limits on the number of people allowed in each day and that migrants were continuing to arrive.
About 5,000 migrants spent a cold night in a transit camp in Opatovac, eastern Croatia.About 5,000 migrants spent a cold night in a transit camp in Opatovac, eastern Croatia.
The BBC's Guy Delauney in Cakovec, near Croatia's border with Slovenia, said railway stations were quiet on Monday morning. Buses crammed with people were backed up in Serbia on Sunday, and tempers flared between frustrated migrants and overstretched police officers.
Passengers on one train, blocked by Slovenia from entering its territory, were offered the choice by Croatian officials of staying temporarily in Croatia or getting off and making their own way. The BBC's Guy Delauney at Croatia's border with Slovenia says the situation has changed from an orderly flow of refugees to one where people are being asked to take their chances with the risks that entails.
The situation has changed from an orderly flow of refugees through Serbia and Croatia into Slovenia to one where people are being asked to take their chances, our correspondent adds, with the risks that entails.
Over the border in Serbia, thousands had been kept in about 50 buses since early on Sunday waiting to cross to Croatia.Over the border in Serbia, thousands had been kept in about 50 buses since early on Sunday waiting to cross to Croatia.
"We are waiting here four hours on the bus," said Muhammad Samin from Afghanistan. "The weather is too cold. We wear lots of shirts. The children are also in the cold. No food." The migrants have already spent weeks walking from Turkey, via Greece, Macedonia and Serbia.
The migrants - many from Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq - have already spent weeks walking from Turkey, via Greece, Macedonia and Serbia. Germany's welcome for Syrian migrants continues to create internal political tensions.
The Pegida organisation, which campaigns against immigration, says it expects tens of thousands to demonstrate in the eastern city of Dresden on Monday evening.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has described Pegida as "hard-right extremists".
Read more:Read more:
Can deeds match words?: The challenges ahead for the EU and TurkeyCan deeds match words?: The challenges ahead for the EU and Turkey
The pull of Europe: Five migrant storiesThe pull of Europe: Five migrant stories
Merkel under pressure: Chancellor's migrant policy faces criticism at homeMerkel under pressure: Chancellor's migrant policy faces criticism at home
Focus on Turkey: Why the EU views Syria's northern neighbour as keyFocus on Turkey: Why the EU views Syria's northern neighbour as key
Crisis in graphics: Migration numbers explainedCrisis in graphics: Migration numbers explained
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said the new route through Slovenia was prolonging the ordeal for thousands of people.
"The decision by Hungary to close its border has certainly added to the suffering and misery and the length of the journey for these desperate people," said UNHCR regional spokesman Babar Baloch.
"There will be challenges if the process becomes slow or we have a backlog of people."
More than 600,000 people, most of them Syrians, have reached Europe so far this year compared with just over 200,000 for the whole of 2014More than 600,000 people, most of them Syrians, have reached Europe so far this year compared with just over 200,000 for the whole of 2014
Germany has said it expects 800,000 asylum seekers this year, but it is believed the number could be as high as 1.5 million.Germany has said it expects 800,000 asylum seekers this year, but it is believed the number could be as high as 1.5 million.
Have you been affected by the migration crisis? You can share your comments and experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by the migration crisis? You can share your comments and experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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