Iraqi, Syrian refugees team up, battle other migrants in Greece

IDOMENI, Greece - Several hundred Iraqis and Syrians in the Idomeni border camp stood between protesters and police on Sunday, thwarting the protesters' efforts to march toward the fence separating Greece from Macedonia. Scuffles broke out between the two groups.

The protesters twice broke through the barrier the Iraqis and Syrians have formed, only to be pushed back by Greek riot police who used only their shields.

People speaking for the Iraqis and Syrians, including Kurds from both countries, have told police that they are not taking part in Sunday's protest and that the protesters are from Afghanistan and Pakistan. They also say that activists were circulating at the camp Saturday, urging people to join the protest.

"There were people, whom we do not know, telling us that they would help us open the border at noon today, but obviously this was not true," Syrian refugee Hassan Fatuhlla told The Associated Press.

Fatuhlla, one of those who have formed a chain around the police, has been at the camp for 37 days. His child was born in a tent 10 days ago, he said.

Iraqis and Syrians are allowed into the European Union as war refugees, although the route through the Balkans is now closed and refugees discouraged from taking the perilous sea journey to Greek islands from Turkey. The scene in Greece was unusual for the sprawling, growing European migrant crisis.

Leftist activists from Greece and other European countries have staged protests outside the transit centers and appear determined to sabotage the deal.

The rumors spread by them that the border would open Sunday led some people who had gone to the centers to return to Idomeni. These people then protesting that the border has not opened.

Greek police said they stopped two buses and 10 cars carrying Italian activists slightly over 2 miles from the border protest.