Turkey Ambassador to UK accuses EU of 'betrayal'

The Turkish Ambassador accused the EU of "betrayal, hypocrisy" and "selfishness" over alleged violations of a 2016 agreement under which his country agreed to stem the flow of migrants into the bloc.

Turkey, which hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, has long maintained the EU has not lived up to its side of the deal and has made good on a threat to open its borders for those seeking to cross illegally into Europe.

Umit Yalcın, Turkish Ambassador to the UK, said the EU's treatment of the agreement with Turkey constituted a "very huge disappointment" that could only be rectified by fulfilling the 2016 commitments.

Thousands of migrants searched for ways to cross Greece's border with Turkey on Tuesday, as Athens ramped up its diplomatic efforts to get help from the European Union to seal off its eastern land and sea frontiers.

Many of those hoping to enter Greece were trying their luck by wading or rowing across the Evros River that runs along most of the length of the Turkish frontier.

The action by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan triggered days of violent clashes and scenes of chaos at the border.

Greece has struggled to push back the wave of migrants, with its armed forces now leading the effort.