You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. DIAVATA, Greece (AP) — The last 60 holdouts from among nearly 1,000 migrants who fought with Greek police for three days have left their makeshift camp in northern Greece. The migrants clashed with police because they believed false reports on social media that restrictions on travel to central and northern Europe had been lifted. Police detained a few of the 60 who had no valid papers. The rest left either for migrant camps or apartments across Greece. None of the residents of a nearby official camp were among them. Even as the makeshift camp started emptying late Saturday, a group was heard cheering loudly. Asked why, they said Chancellor Angela Merkel was opening Germany's borders. Like the previous reports, this one also was false. Most of the migrants are refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Protests triggered by false reports on social media I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Greek police clashed with hundreds of refugees hoping to cross to neighbouring countries and travel onwards to northern Europe. Demonstrations outside the camp in Diavata were triggered by false reports on social media saying restrictions on travel to northern Europe had been lifted, authorities said. Riot police fired tear gas at dozens of people, some with children in their arms, who responded by throwing stones and bottles as they tried to break a police cordon and reach a road leading to the border. Several refugees, including children, fainted amid the gas clouds on Saturday. Protesters lit fires to make the air more bearable, but blazes also erupted from exploding stun grenades. Greek officials say the migrants have been mobilised by false reports originating on social media that the road to central Europe, tightly sealed to migrants for three years, is open again, and that buses chartered by non-governmental organisations were waiting on the other side of the border with North Macedonia, about 60km (40 miles) to the north of Diavata. Greek TV station Ant1 showed messages sent over social media earlier this week, in Arabic, from a purported NGO called "Caravan of Hope" advising refugees Greece was to open the border with North Macedonia on 5 April at noon. Most were not residents of the camps, but came from all over Greece to reach the North Macedonian border and had started setting up tents near the camp. Around 100 tents had been pitched in the field next to the camp, which was heavily guarded by police. People refused to leave despite calls by ministers to return to accommodation centres and warnings onward travel would be impossible. "It's a lie that the borders will open," migration minister Dimitris Vitsas told Greek state television ERT on Friday. Tens of thousands of refugees, mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, have been stuck in Greece since 2016, when Balkan countries shut their borders, closing the main passage towards northern Europe. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Today's print edition Home Delivery Dozens of refugees and migrants stuck in Greece gathered in a field near the country's northern border on Thursday seeking to travel onward to Northern Europe Small groups of people including children arrived at the field next to the migrant camp of Diavata near the border with North Macedonia carrying their belongings on their backs.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Brief scuffles broke out with police as more people arrived The move was apparently spurred by reports on social media of plans for an organized movement to cross Greece's northwest land border with Albania in early April The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) issued a warning against what it described as false information and rumors "Please be aware that these informal movements "Attempts to cross borders irregularly are often unsuccessful and can bear serious consequences including arrest Tens of thousands of refugees and migrants became stranded in Greece when Balkan countries shut their borders in 2016 That route was the main passage way to Northern Europe a makeshift camp sprung up in another field near the village of Idomeni and mushroomed into a small community of at least 10,000 people camped in overcrowded Greek authorities eventually cleared it out In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Alexis Tsipras is due to become the first Greek prime minister to pay an official visit to a penitentiary institution on Monday when he inaugurates a rehabilitation center for drug addicts at Diavata Prison near Thessaloniki The rehab unit is the most up-to-date in the Greek correctional system and has been created as part of the government’s efforts to improve the reintegration of inmates into society The Justice Ministry has also sought to focus on educational programs for prisoners Tsipras is due to be accompanied by Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos on his visit to Diavata Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday inaugurated a new prison wing destined for drug users at Diavata Prison in Thessaloniki referring to the unit as a “window of hope.” The new Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals (KETHEA) – Promytheas prison wing signaled a new perception with regard to correctional policy one based on “clemency” and the possibility of a “second chance,” noted the Greek premier who also announced the upcoming launch of a collaboration between high-security Korydallos Prison in southeast Attica and the psychiatric clinic of Attikon hospital Tsipras visited the prison’s school where he was informed of its operations by members of staff Greek police have scuffled with hundreds of migrants who gathered near the northern city of Thessaloniki hoping to enter North Macedonia It was later cleared by Greek police and the migrants were redistributed to various official camps