Migrant Crisis - Macedonia border closure strands thousands in Greece Sunday February 21,2016

Thousands of migrants and refugees have been stranded near Athens and on Greece's northern border after Macedonia stopped allowing Afghans in.

The Macedonian move came three days after Austria imposed a daily limit of 80 asylum claims on its southern border.

Macedonia said it was now halting access to Afghans as well, because Serbia had itself imposed restrictions, although that was disputed by the Belgrade government

More than 5,000 people were stuck at or near the border and at one point several tried to storm the fence. Four thousand more arrived by sea from the Aegean islands at Piraeus port.

Macedonia said on Sunday February 21,2016 it was following other governments by allowing in only Syrians and Iraqis

Greece protested against the decision.

After Syrians, Afghans made up the second largest number of people seeking asylum in the EU in 2015