DHAKA: Thousands of migrants are crossing into Slovenia from Croatia after Hungary closed its border to them.

Around 2,700 arrived in Slovenia on Saturday and more were expected overnight. Most aim to travel on to Austria, Germany and other countries, reports the BBC.

Slovenia's army has been placed on standby to help police deal with the influx, Prime Minister Miro Cerar said.

He said Slovenia would accept the migrants as long as Austria and Germany kept their borders open.

Hungary said it closed its border with Croatia at midnight on Friday because European Union leaders had failed to agree a plan to stem the flow of asylum seekers.

Last month it also shut its frontier with Serbia, which was another transit route to Western Europe.

On Saturday, hundreds of refugees were bussed across Croatia, from its border with Serbia to its border with Slovenia.

Many had spent weeks walking through Greece, Macedonia and Serbia to reach the Croatian border.

BDST: 1000 HRS, OCT 18, 2015
RS