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Belarus migrants: Poland fears armed border escalation Belarus migrants: EU accuses Lukashenko of gangster-style abuse
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Watch: Video shows hundreds of migrants at Belarus' border with PolandWatch: Video shows hundreds of migrants at Belarus' border with Poland
Poland has warned of a possible "armed" escalation on its border with Belarus, fearing its neighbour may try to provoke an incident with hundreds of migrants seeking to cross into the EU. The European Commission has accused Belarus's authoritarian leader of luring migrants with the false promise of easy entry to the EU as part of an "inhuman, gangster-style approach".
Extra troops have been deployed after desperate crowds tried to cut a barbed-wire border fence. At least 2,000 migrants are now at the Belarus border with Poland.
Poland, the European Union and Nato say Belarus is orchestrating the problem, a claim denied by its disputed leader. "Upon arrival they are being pushed to the border and forced to make an illegal entry into the European Union," said Commission spokesman Peter Stano.
Poland says it is shutting a major border crossing at Kuznica. Belarus's leader Alexander Lukashenko denies orchestrating the problem.
As many as 4,000 people are now caught up in the migrant crisis on Poland's eastern border, officials in Warsaw say. Overnight temperatures at the border have slumped below zero and several people have already died in recent weeks.
EU and Nato members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have all seen a surge in the number of people trying to enter their countries illegally from Belarus in recent months. Many are young men but they include women and children, largely from the Middle East and Asia.EU and Nato members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have all seen a surge in the number of people trying to enter their countries illegally from Belarus in recent months. Many are young men but they include women and children, largely from the Middle East and Asia.
Activists say they are being used as pawns in a political game between non-EU Belarus, run by authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, and its neighbours. EU officials complain of a continuing hybrid attack by Belarus. Poland has seen the most arrivals, especially around its major border crossing at Kuznica.
UN refugee agency spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said that it was very worried by the latest scenes: "Using refugees, asylum seekers and migrants to achieve political ends is unacceptable and must stop." Migrants have described how Belarusian authorities seized their phones and pushed them towards the border fence. Overnight temperatures at the border have slumped below zero and several people have already died in recent weeks.
Many migrants have been trapped on the border between Poland and BelarusMany migrants have been trapped on the border between Poland and Belarus
Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller told reporters that at some point they expected "an escalation... which will be of an armed nature". Poland has deployed extra troops after desperate crowds tried to cut a barbed-wire border fence on Monday. The border guard said more than 300 attempts had been made to cross illegally. The government warned of a possible "armed" escalation on its border with Belarus, fearing its neighbour might try to provoke an incident.
Polish TV said many of the migrants gathering near Kuznica were accompanied by armed individuals with dogs.
The head of Poland's national security department, Stanislaw Zaryn, said the migrants were under the control of Belarusian armed units. "Belarus wants to cause a major incident, preferably with shots fired and casualties," deputy foreign minister Piotr Wawrzyk said earlier.The head of Poland's national security department, Stanislaw Zaryn, said the migrants were under the control of Belarusian armed units. "Belarus wants to cause a major incident, preferably with shots fired and casualties," deputy foreign minister Piotr Wawrzyk said earlier.
The EU, Nato and the US all say Belarus is orchestrating the problem. Brussels accuses Belarus's disputed leader of provoking the influx in retaliation against EU sanctions, imposed after his widely discredited re-election and subsequent crackdown on mass protests.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visited troops on the border early on TuesdayPolish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki visited troops on the border early on Tuesday
The Belarus defence ministry rejected the Polish statements as unfounded and unsubstantiated, and accused Warsaw of violating agreements by moving thousands of troops to the border.The Belarus defence ministry rejected the Polish statements as unfounded and unsubstantiated, and accused Warsaw of violating agreements by moving thousands of troops to the border.
Russia meanwhile praised its Belarusian ally's "responsible" handling of the border row and said it was watching the situation closely. Belarus insists the migrants are arriving legally there and that it is merely acting "as a hospitable country".
The EU accuses the Belarus leader of provoking the influx in retaliation against the bloc's sanctions. Russia has praised its ally's "responsible" handling of the border row and said it is watching the situation closely.
Activists say the migrants are being used as pawns in a political game between non-EU Belarus and its neighbours. Poland has also been accused of pushing migrants back across the border, contrary to international rules of asylum.
UN refugee agency spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said that it was very worried by the latest scenes: "Using refugees, asylum seekers and migrants to achieve political ends is unacceptable and must stop."
READ MORE: How Belarus is helping ‘tourists’ break into the EUREAD MORE: How Belarus is helping ‘tourists’ break into the EU
It imposed the measures after Mr Lukashenko's crackdown on mass protests following last year's widely discredited presidential election, and the arrest of a dissident journalist on board a Ryanair flight that was forced to land in Minsk. The European Commission is now looking to extend sanctions to include "third-country airlines" involved in flying migrants to Belarus. It said it was looking at flights to Minsk from a number of countries, including Syria, Iran and Qatar as well as Russia and several North African states.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would look at extending sanctions to include "third-country airlines" involved in flying migrants to Belarus. Germany on Tuesday urged the EU to "take action" to help Poland secure its borders. Lithuania has also moved troops to its border with Belarus to prepare for a possible influx of migrants.
Mr Lukashenko has accused border guards in neighbouring EU states of being violent towards migrants. Interior minister Ivan Kubrakov said the migrants had arrived legally in Belarus and "as a hospitable country, we are always ready to accept everyone".
Germany on Tuesday urged the EU to "take action" to help Poland secure its borders.
Polish troops and border guards with shields stopped migrants from crossing into the countryPolish troops and border guards with shields stopped migrants from crossing into the country
Lithuania has also moved troops to its border with Belarus to prepare for a possible influx of migrants.
The BBC's Paul Adams spoke to Barwa Nusreddine Ahmed, the brother of one Iraqi migrant who was at the Polish border with his wife and three children. They arrived in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, last month.The BBC's Paul Adams spoke to Barwa Nusreddine Ahmed, the brother of one Iraqi migrant who was at the Polish border with his wife and three children. They arrived in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, last month.
With little to eat or drink, the people stuck at the border were suffering, Mr Ahmed said.With little to eat or drink, the people stuck at the border were suffering, Mr Ahmed said.
He said Monday's move to the border post was planned on social media by the migrants themselves, but suggested Belarus was pushing them.He said Monday's move to the border post was planned on social media by the migrants themselves, but suggested Belarus was pushing them.
"People know they're being used [by Mr Lukashenko], but they have no future," Mr Ahmed said."People know they're being used [by Mr Lukashenko], but they have no future," Mr Ahmed said.
Tensions intensified on Monday when videos posted on social media showed a large column of people, including women and children, walking towards the Polish border in Belarus.Tensions intensified on Monday when videos posted on social media showed a large column of people, including women and children, walking towards the Polish border in Belarus.
Other videos showed large numbers of migrants being escorted by armed men dressed in khaki.
pic.twitter.com/TM281WMKJOpic.twitter.com/TM281WMKJO
Some videos showed large numbers of migrants being escorted by armed men dressed in khaki.
In other footage shared on social media, crowds of migrants can be seen attempting to breach a razor wire fence at the border, but being prevented from passing through by Polish border guards.In other footage shared on social media, crowds of migrants can be seen attempting to breach a razor wire fence at the border, but being prevented from passing through by Polish border guards.
The Belarusian border guard agency earlier told state media that "refugees" were heading for the EU "where they want to apply for protection".The Belarusian border guard agency earlier told state media that "refugees" were heading for the EU "where they want to apply for protection".
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