Tension was reported at near riot levels on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos (Lesbos) when groups of mostly young Middle Eastern and central Asian men that landed on the island from Turkey began protests, marches and scuffles with riot police in demand for quicker processing.
Along with Syrian nationals fleeing the fratricidal conflict in the country and considered as legitimate refugees of war, thousands of other third country nationals have also sneaked into Greece in a bid to continue on to western and northern Europe.

According to reports from the island’s capital, Mytilene, such large groups includes various — and often in conflict — ethnicities from Afghanistan, Pakistanis, Iranian nationals and even people from sub-Saharan Africa.
Incidents began in the morning when several thousand men abandoned a makeshift camp at the Kara Tepe site and marched towards the island capital’s port, where they were joined by thousands of other people already camped out there as well.
A swelling protest march then moved towards the main square in front of city hall, although the protesters were blocked by riot police.

Numerous fires were reported by the fire brigade along the protest march, with tensions flared between the irregular migrants and local residents.
The main demand is accelerated processing, transport to mainland Greece and the right to exit the country and enter another unhindered, until the refugees and would-be migrants reach their desired destination in western or northern Europe.