Zimpapers Logo

Gjorge Ivanov

ATHENS. — Macedonian security forces have fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse dozens of refugees who were trying to pull down a fence at Greece’s border with Macedonia and enter the Balkan country. The incident erupted yesterday as about 100 refugees attempted to take down the fence, which has been set up to keep them from entering Macedonia on their way to wealthier European countries.

However, the demonstrators swiftly pulled back when Greek riot police moved in and positioned themselves between the refugees and the fence. The incident happened just a few hundred meters away from where Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov was present to visit a refugee reception center with his Croatian and Slovenian counterparts.

Also on Sunday, Macedonian police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of refugees who were trying to break through the fence at the Greek border.

Nearly 300 refugees were wounded and reportedly treated in the field clinic of a medical charity group near the Idomeni crossing.

The violent clashes reportedly erupted after the crowd reacted to rumours that the border was about to open. Reacting to the violence, the UN refugee agency on Monday strongly denounced the use of tear gas by Macedonian police against refugees.

Adrian Edwards, the spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said in a statement that the use of tear gas by Macedonian police against refugees on the border with Greece tarnishes Europe’s — Press.