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Macedonia imposes new curbs on refugees

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Macedonia imposes new curbs on refugees
Children watch a cartoon movie in a field at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni

Idomeni, Greece - The rate at which refugees are being allowed to cross had already been reduced to a trickle, with sometimes only a few dozen, or even nobody, being allowed to cross.

By AFP

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Published: Sun 6 Mar 2016, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Mon 7 Mar 2016, 10:06 AM

Macedonian authorities imposed further restrictions on Sunday on refugees trying to cross the border from Greece, allowing only those from cities they consider to be at war to enter, Greek police officials said.
The officials said the restrictions mean people from cities such as Aleppo in Syria, for example, can enter Macedonia at the Idomeni border crossing, but those from the Syrian capital of Damascus or the Iraqi capital of Baghdad are being stopped.
The restrictions were the latest move by Macedonia to slow the flow of refugees into the country, and come a day ahead of a summit between the European Union and Turkey to discuss the crisis.
The rate at which refugees are being allowed to cross had already been reduced to a trickle, with sometimes only a few dozen, or even nobody, being allowed to cross.
Greek police said 240 people crossed between 6am. Saturday and the same time Sunday morning.
Nearly all refugees and other migrants who enter the EU have been doing so by taking small inflatable dinghies from the Turkish coast to the nearby Greek islands.

Mustafa from Idlib, Syrian gives milk to his 2-months baby boy at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Saturday, March 5, 2016. The regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Mustafa from Idlib, Syrian gives milk to his 2-months baby boy at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Saturday, March 5, 2016. The regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A refugee stands near his tent in a camp where thousands of refugees are waiting to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A refugee stands near his tent in a camp where thousands of refugees are waiting to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Refugees stand near the border fence as they wait to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Refugees stand near the border fence as they wait to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A man covered with a blanket walks in a camp where thousands of refugees are waiting to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A man covered with a blanket walks in a camp where thousands of refugees are waiting to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Refugees sleep near the border fence as they wait to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Refugees sleep near the border fence as they wait to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Refugees sleep inside a tent in a camp where thousands of refugees are waiting to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Refugees sleep inside a tent in a camp where thousands of refugees are waiting to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A train passes as a woman walks with her children on railway track in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A train passes as a woman walks with her children on railway track in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A baby drinks milk as others sit next to a makeshift fire in a camp where thousands of refugees are waiting to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A baby drinks milk as others sit next to a makeshift fire in a camp where thousands of refugees are waiting to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A man is covered with a blanket as others sleep in a camp where thousands of refugees are waiting to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A man is covered with a blanket as others sleep in a camp where thousands of refugees are waiting to be allowed to cross the border into Macedonia in the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Migrants wait near the border gate at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. Greek police officials saidy Macedonian authorities have imposed further restrictions on refugees trying to cross the border, saying only those from cities they consider to be at war can enter. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Migrants wait near the border gate at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. Greek police officials saidy Macedonian authorities have imposed further restrictions on refugees trying to cross the border, saying only those from cities they consider to be at war can enter. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Migrants walk in a field on a foggy morning near the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. Greek police officials said Macedonian authorities have imposed further restrictions on refugees trying to cross the border, saying only those from cities they consider to be at war can enter. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Migrants walk in a field on a foggy morning near the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. Greek police officials said Macedonian authorities have imposed further restrictions on refugees trying to cross the border, saying only those from cities they consider to be at war can enter. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A migrant mother holds her child and a bag of bread near the border that separates the Greek side from the Macedonian one to be allowed to cross into Macedonia, at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
A migrant mother holds her child and a bag of bread near the border that separates the Greek side from the Macedonian one to be allowed to cross into Macedonia, at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
A migrant child gestures near the border that separates the Greek side from the Macedonian one to be allowed to cross into Macedonia, at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
A migrant child gestures near the border that separates the Greek side from the Macedonian one to be allowed to cross into Macedonia, at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
A migrant family rests near the border that separates the Greek side from the Macedonian one to be allowed to cross into Macedonia, at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
A migrant family rests near the border that separates the Greek side from the Macedonian one to be allowed to cross into Macedonia, at the northern Greek border station of Idomeni, Sunday, March 6, 2016. A regional governor called on the Greek government Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of migrants are stranded due to border restrictions along the route toward western Europe. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

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