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Germany, Austria agree to receive thousands of migrants from Hungary

By Doug G. Ware
A makeshift migrant camp is seen along the banks of the Seine river near Gare d'Austerlitz in Paris on Friday, September 4, 2015. Similar scenes are being seen across Europe as tens of thousands attempt to flee from the Middle East and Africa for more safety and a better life in the West. Photo by David Silpa/UPI
A makeshift migrant camp is seen along the banks of the Seine river near Gare d'Austerlitz in Paris on Friday, September 4, 2015. Similar scenes are being seen across Europe as tens of thousands attempt to flee from the Middle East and Africa for more safety and a better life in the West. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

BERLIN, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- The leaders of Germany and Austria on Friday agreed to permit the entry of thousands of migrants from Hungary -- as the refugee crisis in Europe escalates.

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann said on his Facebook page that he had spoken to Hungarian officials and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and all agreed to allow the thousands of fleeing migrants to make the trip to one of the two nations.

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Thousands of refugees have been clinging to a railroad in Budapest, hoping to catch a ride to the Austrian border. More than a thousand ultimately gave up in the face of earlier resistance from Hungarian officials and started walking to the border on foot, The New York Times reported Friday.

Eventually, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban agreed to bus the migrants to the Austrian and German borders.

"On the basis of the current situation of need, Austria and Germany agree to allow in this case the onward journey of these refugees into their countries," Orban wrote in his Facebook post.

Europe's refugee crisis has grown in recent weeks -- as tens of thousands fleeing unrest in countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Libya seek safety elsewhere. Most governments have so far resisted most of the influx.

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In many areas at sea, migrant boats filled over capacity are being patrolled in the waters off land -- some sit at sea, wondering what to do upon refusal at European shores.

Hungarian authorities earlier refused to allow the migrants to board trains or buses to the West and at one time attempted to place most in a refugee camp in Budapest, the Times report said.

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