Hungary slams 'bizarre' criticism over border clashes

Foreign Minister says aggressive people will never be let in

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY: Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Thursday slammed as "shocking" criticism of the police's use of tear gas and water cannon during clashes with migrants at the Hungary-Serbia border.

Angrily brushing off criticism, including from UN chief Ban Ki-moon who said such treatment of refugees and migrants was "not acceptable", Szijjarto defended the police's actions at a press conference in Budapest.

"The interpretation of the events at the border yesterday by the international political elite and certain international media has been bizarre and shocking," he said.

Read: Migrants settle scores with Hungarian police

"Aggressive people such as seen yesterday will never be let in, Hungary will defend its borders no matter what outrageous criticism it gets from whomever in the international political elite," he added.

Clashes erupted at the flashpoint Roszke crossing on the Hungary-Serbia border on Wednesday, with police trying to block dozens of migrants massed on the Serbian side of the border from breaching a razor-wire fence.

The situation escalated over four hours, with black-helmeted riot police firing tear gas and water cannon as migrants threw sticks, stones and plastic bottles. Fourteen police were injured, officials said.