The Latest: Greece: Golden Dawn rally against transit camp

February 8, 2016 at 4:57 a.m. | Updated February 8, 2016 at 5:05 a.m.

by Associated Press

Refugees and migrants sit outside a terminal building, after their arrival from the Greek eastern islands, at the Athens' port of Piraeus on Monday, Feb. 8, 2016. An estimated 850,000 migrants arrived in Greece in 2015, overwhelming the coast guard and reception facilities. Aid groups say cash-strapped Greece has shelter for only about 10,000 people, just over 1 percent of those who have entered. Most travel on via land across the Balkans and into the EU's heartland of Germany and beyond. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Refugees and migrants sit outside a terminal building, after their arrival from the Greek eastern islands, at the Athens' port of Piraeus on Monday, Feb. 8, 2016. An estimated 850,000 migrants arrived in Greece in 2015, overwhelming the coast guard and reception facilities. Aid groups say cash-strapped Greece has shelter for only about 10,000 people, just over 1 percent of those who have entered. Most travel on via land across the Balkans and into the EU's heartland of Germany and beyond. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - The Latest on the influx of migrants into Europe (all times local):

11:55 a.m.

Dozens of Greek riot police have been deployed to a demonstration organized by the extreme right Golden Dawn party against plans to build a new transit camp for refugees and migrants near Athens.

Four of the party's 18 lawmakers were present at the rally Monday outside the port of Perama, about 15 kilometers (9.5 miles) west of Athens, where the government is planning to build the camp with the help of the armed forces.

About 150 people staged a counter-demonstration near the site.

Greece is under pressure from the European Union to complete screening centers on five islands and increase its capacity to house asylum-seekers and detain migrants facing deportation.

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11:50 a.m.

A retired general who once led the French Foreign Legion will appear in court after he was arrested for taking part in a banned anti-migrant protest in Calais.

Christian Piquemal and around 150 militants from anti-Islam and anti-immigration group Pegida gathered Saturday in the northern French city to chant slogans such as "We must not let Calais die. Calais is part of France."

Police dispersed the rowdy protest with tear gas.

Calais has been a focal point for migrants who want to slip into Britain via the Channel Tunnel. Several thousand have been living there in slums for months.

The demonstration was one of several around Europe Saturday amid growing tensions over the massive influx of asylum-seekers to the continent.

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10:40

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is meeting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and other Turkish officials for talks on reducing the influx of migrants to Europe.

Turkey, a key country on the migrant route to Europe, is central to Merkel's diplomatic efforts to reduce the flow.

Her talks in Ankara Monday come as Turkey faces mounting pressure to open its border to up to 35,000 Syrians who have massed along the frontier fleeing an onslaught by government forces.

Turkey, home 2.5 million Syrian refugees, says it has reached its capacity to absorb refugees but has indicated that it will continue to provide refuge.

Turkey agreed in November to fight smuggling networks and help curb irregular migration. The EU has pledged 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) to help improve the condition of refugees.

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