Migrant transfers spark protests in northern Greece

Greece is relocating migrants to mainland as part of battle against backlog of almost 70,000 unresolved asylum applications

Right-wing extremists protest in Thessaloniki against the transfer of migrants from the Greek islands to sites on the mainland on Sunday. AFP

Protesters in northern Greece took to the streets on Sunday to rally against the transfer of migrants from the Greek islands to sites on the mainland.

An anti-migrant march in the northern city of Thessaloniki on Sunday was attended by about 100 people, while a counter-demonstration of anarchists drew a slightly larger crowd.

Protests took place in two other northern towns including Yannitsa and Serres.

"They should leave. We have had enough," an inhabitant of Yannitsa told the Skai broadcasting group as several dozen people tried to prevent the dawn arrival of 60 asylum-seekers from the islands of Lesbos and Samos.

About 60 other migrants have already been relocated to Yannitsa and "we have had many problems", the resident said.

The migrants finally managed to leave their bus as police watched on, and occupied rooms at hotels in the town.

To the east in Serres, another protest was held against the arrival of about 20 migrants.

Over the weekend, about 900 people were transferred from Greek islands to sites on the mainland, and the government has said it wants to relocate 20,000 by the end of the year.

Ten days ago, inhabitants of Nea Vrasna prevented 380 asylum-seekers from reaching hotels by stoning their buses, which turned around and went to another relocation site in central Greece.

The country has again become a key point of entry for migrants to Europe, possibly owing to a new policy from neighbouring Turkey, which threatened in September to ease border controls if it did not receive more international aid.

In the past four months "40,000 migrants and refugees have arrived", junior minister Georges Koumoutsakos told Skai.

"We have to show solidarity with border regions that have borne the brunt," Mr Koumoutsakos said.

Greek figures show more than 34,000 people live in miserable conditions on five islands that in theory can host 6,300 while they register as asylum-seekers.

On Friday, legislators approved a law that tightens asylum procedures and is aimed at easing "a state of prolonged paralysis", said conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Mr Mitsotakis said the country was trying to clear nearly 70,000 pending requests.

He accused Turkey and the previous centre-left Greek government for the sudden rise in migrant arrivals.