UNITED NATIONS Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has says he is “shocked” after Hungarian police fired tear gas and water cannon to force migrants back from its border.
Ban said such treatment of asylum seekers was “unacceptable”.
Hundreds of migrants were involved in the clashes at the border between Hungary and Serbia on Wednesday, trying to break through a razor-wire fence.
Many of them want to reach Germany, amid divisions within the European Union over how to deal with the crisis.
Hungary defended its action, saying that 20 police officers were injured as migrants tried to break through a gate, and a spokesman accused migrants of using children as “human shields”.
At least two migrants were also injured, Hungarian and Serbian officials said.
Hungary closed its entire border with Serbia on Tuesday after making it illegal to enter the country or damage the border fence. The country’s courts have started fast-track trials of arrested migrants.
More than 200 000 people have already crossed into Hungary this year to enter the EU’s Schengen zone, which normally allows people to travel between member countries without restrictions. (BBC)
