Serbia govt criticises Hungary, says will send extra police to border
Hungarian police fired tear gas at dozens of migrants who managed to break through Serbian border
BELGRADE (AFP) - Serbia said it had lodged an official protest Wednesday with Hungary over the "use of tear gas on our territory" and said it was sending more police officers to the countries shared border following a spike in tensions between migrants and Hungarian police.
"I have decided to send additional police forces" to the Horgos border crossing in order to prevent further clashes between migrants and Hungarian police, Serbia s Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said in a statement.
Hungarian police fired tear gas at dozens of migrants who managed to break through their lines on the Serbian border and force their way into Hungary at the flashpoint Horgos-Roszke crossing.
The Hungarian government said that 20 police were injured in the clashes.
Serbian national broadcaster RTS reported that several migrants were slightly injured as well, adding that members of its reporting crew were beaten and their equipment smashed by Hungarian police.
Serbia s minister for refugees, Aleksandar Vulin, said it was "unacceptable" that Hungary used water cannons and tear gas against the migrants.
"I have to strongly protest because water cannons and tear gas were used against these people and because it was done on our territory," Vulin told national broadcaster RTS.
"This was thrown over the border line and Hungary had no right to do so," Vulin added.
