Roundup: Croatia possibly to close border under pressure of pour of migrants

Croatia would close its borders if migrants continue to flood to the country, Croatian Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said on Thursday evening.

At a news conference, he confirmed that Slovenia had shut down its borders and there was no corridor for migrants to Schengen countries.

He asked migrants to stay where they were because Croatia could not offer them anything more than they were getting in the countries they were located now.

Croatia was full, he said, adding "it will not be able to receive more people."

There were reports that some 500 migrants have scuffled with police at Tovarnik and Bezdan, the towns near the border with Serbia on Thursday afternoon after hours waiting in full sun. They planned to use Croatian as an alternative route into the Germany and other countries after Hungary closed its borders.

As many as 8,900 migrants have crossed into Croatia since Wednesday morning, according to figures released by the Interior Ministry at 5 p.m. local time.

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said earlier the situation with refugees in the country was grave but no necessary for panic.

He said that he had joined in an initiative for an extraordinary meeting of the European Council to discuss the migrant issue.

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, also on Thursday, said "the situation is getting out of control to some extent" and called for the adoption of new measures to protect the security of citizens and the stability of the state.

Croatian Defence minister Ante Kotromanovic expressed army's readiness to help in dealing with refugee crisis, saying they were waiting for "a signal" from Interior Minister Rajko Ostojic, who is in charge of the taskforce responsible for coordinating the efforts of tackling migrants crisis. Enditem