Clashes On Kos As Police Disperse Migrants

Clashes On Kos As Police Disperse Migrants

Police have used fire extinguishers and batons to disperse crowds of migrants chanting "We want papers, we want to eat!" during clashes on the Greek island of Kos.

Hundreds of migrants are arriving on Greece's islands in the Aegean Sea every day, with authorities struggling to provide adequate food and shelter.

Many of the new arrivals - mostly from Syria and Afghanistan - have been camping in the main town, also called Kos, gathering in parks and squares on the popular tourist island.

A group of migrants blocked the main coastal road of Kos on Tuesday and staged a sit-in.

Police later tried to relocate the group to a nearby stadium for registration, leading to clashes between officers and around 1,500 refugees.

A handful of police tried to maintain order, using fire extinguishers to spray the migrants and striking some with batons.

Hundreds fled in panic.

Greece's coast guard says it rescued 329 migrants in seven separate search and rescue operations off the coast of Lesbos and Kos in the 24 hours from Monday morning.

Hundreds more reach the shore in inflatable boats from Turkey before making their way to the islands' towns for registration.

Greece has been overwhelmed by the number of migrants arriving on its shores, with at least 124,000 people reaching the eastern islands in the first seven months of 2015.

The United Nations says the figure represents a 750% increase over the same period last year.

:: Watch Sky's exclusive documentary People Smuggler: World's Most Wanted in full on Catch Up.