Daily Mail: First 18,000 Syrian refugees cross Greek border amid fresh tear gas clashes with guards after Turkish president Erdogan vowed to open doors to Europe and KEEP them open
* Turkish President Erdogan said he would not close the gates for migrants seeking refuge in Europe
* The drastic shift comes after Turkey lost 33 military personnel during an offensive in Idlib on Thursday
* Migrants played a cat-and-mouse game with Greek border patrols throughout the night and into Saturday
* The move is seen as a way of influencing European powers to help to resolve the ongoing conflict in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to keep borders open for Syrian refugees headed for Europe as the first 18,000 cross the Greek border and migrants clash for the second day with guards.
'What did we do yesterday (Friday)? We opened the doors,' Erdogan said in Istanbul in his first comments since 33 Turkish troops were killed in northern Syria on Thursday. 'We will not close those doors ...Why? Because the European Union should keep its promises.'
The Turkish leader also said 18,000 migrants have amassed on the Turkish borders with Europe since Friday, adding that the number could reach as many as 30,000 on Saturday.
Migrants played a cat-and-mouse game with Greek border patrols throughout the night and into Saturday, with some cutting holes in the fence only to be turned back by tear gas and stun grenades. Greek authorities also fired tear gas to repulse attempts by the crowd to push through the border.
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WNU Editor: Turkish President Erdogan thinks that by opening the border he is putting pressure on Europe to help him with his military operations in Syria. But all that it is doing is creating a great deal of European resentment and mistrust against him.
More News On Migrants Swarming The Greek And Bulgarian Border
Syria war: Turkey says thousands of migrants have crossed to EU -- BBC
Greece stops 4,000 migrants at Turkey border -- France 24
Greece pushes back migrants on Turkish border 'onslaught' -- Reuters
Erdogan Says, ‘We Opened the Doors,’ and Clashes Erupt as Migrants Head for Europe -- The New York Times
Greek police fire teargas on migrants at border with Turkey -- CNBC/Reuters
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