Greek town protests against migrant holding centre

CORINTH: Plans by Greece's government to house undocumented migrants in disused army camps have sparked outrage in one town, as immigrants in Athens protested Friday what they say is rising xenophobia.

The mayor of the town of Corinth, west of Athens, pledged Friday to resist the move - which would see thousands of migrants temporarily lodged in camps around the country.

"It's a crime against Corinth," Mayor Alexandros Pnevmatikos told Skai TV.

"The town council has unanimously voted to escalate the struggle to throw out this camp," the socialist said, after a small group of protesters clashed with riot police outside the holding centre on Thursday.

The protest was led by the local chapter of Golden Dawn, a neo-Nazi group that has surged in popularity as recession-choked Greece battles to stay in the eurozone, winning 18 seats in June elections on immigration and crime fears.

"No law says army camps can be transformed into tourist centres for illegal immigrants," said party member Ilias Kasidiaris. "Members of the Golden Dawn and hundreds of citizens are going to react."

Another protest was due to be held in Corinth, west of Athens, in the evening.

The mayor has threatened to cut off the camp's water supply and rubbish garbage disposal until around 350 migrants brought in on Thursday are pulled out.

"We will do whatever is possible to avert this disaster," he said.

"This camp housed conscripts until five days ago... it's not suitable to act as a prison," the mayor said.

Towns in northern Greece also oppose the plan.

The government argues that the detentions will be temporary until migrants whose applications for refugee status are rejected can be deported.

Meanwhile in Athens Friday, thousands of mostly Pakistani immigrants gathered in front of Greece's parliament to protest at what they say is rising violence against them in one of the biggest demonstrations of its kind seen in the country.

Waving banners that read "No to fascist attacks" and "Neo-Nazis get out", protestors cited the death earlier this month of a young Iraqi in a hate attack, and recent "blasphemous" graffiti on walls in a Muslim area in the poor Athens suburb of Renti.

"If they hit us, well, we are used to it, but attacking Islam, that is unacceptable," said Zain, a 21-year-old Pakistani artist who gave only his first name.

Because of its geographical position, Greece serves as the main entry point for migrants from Asia and Africa crossing illegally into the European Union.

The recession-hit country has about 800,000 legally-registered immigrants, while the number of undocumented immigrants is estimated to be more than 350,000.