Thousands of Czechs are rallying in the Czech capital of Prague, some against the influx of refugees and others in support of them. Some opposing protesters clashed briefly before police separated them.

The main anti-migrant rally Saturday, part of Europe-wide protests in cooperation with Germany's anti-Islam, anti-immigrant group PEGIDA, is taking place in front of Prague Castle, the presidency seat. Czech President Milos Zeman is known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Martin Konvicka, a leader of the anti-Muslim movement, is calling the influx of refugees an "invasion" that poses a "huge threat for us all."

Two other anti-migrant groups are rallying in Prague and another in the second-largest Czech city of Brno. Two demonstrations in favor of immigration are also going on in Prague.

In the Netherlands, riot police have clashed with demonstrators in Amsterdam as supporters of the anti-Islam, anti-migrant group PEGIDA tried to hold their first protest in the Dutch capital as part of a series of demonstrations in Europe.

A square near Amsterdam city hall that had been earmarked for the PEGIDA demonstration had to be shut down shortly before the gathering as police and explosives experts examined what police called a "suspect package."

Only about 200 PEGIDA supporters were present, outnumbered by police and left-wing demonstrators who shouted, "Refugees are welcome, fascists are not!"

Dutch riot police detained several people as officers on horseback intervened to separate the two groups of demonstrators.

 

The European Union today called on Turkey to open its borders to thousands of Syrians who are fleeing fierce government offensives and intense Russian airstrikes.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini says "the support that the EU is providing to Turkey, among others, is aimed exactly at guaranteeing" that Ankara can protect and host people that are seeking asylum.

EU foreign ministers met with their Turkish counterpart for informal talks in Amsterdam on Saturday .

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the government was keeping "this open border policy for these people fleeing from the aggression of the regime as well as air strikes of Russia."

"We need to keep this open door policy for them. We have received already more than 5,000 of them. Another 50-55,000 of them are on the way and we cannot leave them there."

A senior Turkish government official said Turkey is caring for some 30-35,000 displaced Syrians on the Syrian side of the border and has no immediate plans to let them in.

Governor Suleyman Tapsiz of the border province of Kilis said Turkey had the ability to care for the Syrians inside Syria for the time being but had made preparations to allow them in in the event of an "extraordinary crisis." He did not elaborate.

Thousands of Syrians rushed toward the Turkish border Friday, fleeing fierce government offensives and intense Russian airstrikes. Turkey kept its Oncupinar border crossing, opposite Syria's Bab al-Salam, closed for a second day Saturday and aid workers said the refugees were being directed to displaced people's camps near the border.

Tapsiz said an estimated that 70,000 more Syrian could arrive at the border if the Russian and Syrian strikes don't end. Turkey is already home to 2.5 million Syrian refugees