by Our Foreign Desk

OVER 7,000 mainly Syrian refugees entered Croatia yesterday in response to Zagreb’s offer to welcome them onto its territory.

Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said that the country had the situation under control, but he warned that “if huge waves start coming through Serbia, we must consider different moves.”

The refugees diverted to Croatia after Hungary deployed razor wire, tear gas and water cannon against them after they crossed from Serbia yesterday.

Croatia represents a longer and more arduous route into Europe for asylum-seekers fleeing violence in their homelands, but they have little choice after Hungary sealed off its southern border with Serbia and began arresting anyone trying to enter illegally.

The refugees are unlikely to stay long in Croatia, with most planning to travel on, passing through Slovenia and then Austria en route to Germany or the Scandinavian countries.

Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic said that her country “cannot force anyone to stay.”

Both Austria and Slovenia reinstated border checks yesterday, suspending the European Union’s principle of free movement, enshrined in the Schengen agreement, and calling for an urgent pan-EU approach.

“We are being put to the test,” said Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann.

“This time we must prove that we don’t want a Europe in which everyone will try to shift their problems to others’ shoulders.”

Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar insisted that his country would protect Schengen, but he did not specify what measures the government would take.

Hungary alarmed its neighbours yesterday with a new announcement that it plans to build more fences along its borders, this time with Romania and Croatia.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto hit back at international criticism of his country’s ­brutal police assaults on refugees.

“I find it bizarre and shocking that certain esteemed international figures have stood on the side of people who for hours were throwing stones and pieces of cement at the Hungarian police,” he said.

“No matter what criticism I receive, we will never allow such aggressive people to enter Hungary. Not even for transit purposes.”

Mr Szijjarto will visit Serbia today to try to defuse tensions created by clashes on their joint border.