Hungarian riot police have fired tear gas and water cannon to force migrants back from the Serbia-Hungary border.
Hundreds
of people have massed at a closed crossing point near the Serbian town
of Horgos, and are involved in a tense stand-off with police on the
other side of the border.
Some migrants threw missiles, including stones and water bottles.
Many of the migrants want to reach Germany, amid divisions within the EU over how to deal with the crisis. Follow the latest on the border clashes BBC correspondents covering the migrant crisis
Tens
of thousands of people have crossed into Hungary to enter the Europe
Union's Schengen zone, which normally allows people to travel between
member countries without restrictions.
Hungary closed its entire
border with Serbia on Tuesday after making it illegal to enter the
country or damage a new razor-wire border fence. The country's courts
have started fast-track trials of arrested migrants.
Serbia's
foreign ministry - which has protested over the firing of tear gas and
water cannon into its territory - says Hungary has now closed the main
border crossing between the two countries to all traffic for 30 days. Image copyrightEPAImage copyrightEPAImage copyrightAPImage copyrightGetty ImagesThere were chaotic scenes near Horgos, with fires
burning and police vehicles and ambulances arriving on the Serbian side
of the border, across from massed ranks of riot police on the Hungarian
side.
The Hungarian government says 20 police officers were injured as migrants tried to break through a gate.
The firing of tear gas and water cannon created a stampede of migrants away from the border.
Several people received treatment from the Serbian ambulance service, some suffering the effects of tear gas.
Migrant
Amir Hassan, from Iraq, said: "We fled wars and violence and did not
expect such brutality and inhumane treatment in Europe."
At the scene: James Reynolds, BBC News, Serbia-Hungary border
A
clash was inevitable. For more than an hour, in the afternoon heat, a
group of migrants and refugees stood inches from a line of Hungarian
riot police at the border gate. A water cannon stood behind the police.
"Open the gate, open the gate," the group shouted.
They
hoped their presence might somehow persuade Hungary to reopen its
border. But the Hungarian police did not move. Several people began to
throw empty water bottles towards the Hungarian line.
Minutes later, riot police fired tear gas canisters in unison. The crowd ran backwards, nearly knocking over tents.
I
ran back with the crowd, with the sting of tear gas in my eyes. Several
refugees pointed me towards a father carrying a baby - both had been
caught up in the tear gas.
Away from the crowd, the atmosphere
was calmer. Families sat on the ground next to their tents. From the
back, we watched the Hungarian police fire water cannon - the water
flared a rainbow colour in the sun.
We also watched young men continue to throw objects towards the Hungarian police lines.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he is "shocked" by the treatment of migrants.
Serbian
minister Aleksandar Vulin, visiting the scene, said the migrants'
frustration was understandable after Hungary closed the border.
"Hungary must show it is ready and capable to accept these people," he said.
Serbia has said it will send additional police to its border with Hungary and try to distance migrants from the fence.
"The
aim is to prevent further attacks on the Hungarian police from our
territory and in a humane and respectful way distance the migrants from
the fence and the Hungarian police," said Interior Minister Nebojsa
Stefanovic in a statement.
Meanwhile, Croatia has said it will
allow migrants to travel on to northern Europe, opening up a new route a
day after Hungary sealed its border with Serbia.
A steady stream
of migrants is crossing into Croatia from Serbia, with some of those
stranded on Serbia's border with Hungary now using the same route.
Croatian
Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said: "We are ready to accept and direct
those people... to where they apparently wish to go."
Are you seeking refuge in Europe? Will you be heading to Croatia? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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