Lesbos officials block ship with container homes for migrants in Greece

Authorities on the Greek island of Lesbos have blocked a ship carrying container homes for refugees and other migrants in protest at the refusal of the government and the EU to move more people to Greece’s mainland, AP said. A government-chartered ship carrying the containers remained anchored at the island’s main town after municipal vehicles were used to block port facilities. The island’s municipal board was due to decide later Monday on whether to lift the blockade following talks with the government. Athens will speed up the relocation of thousands of migrants from its overcrowded islands to the mainland before the onset of winter, AFP cited government sources as saying Monday. Greece persuaded Turkey last week to accept migrant returns from the mainland and not just from the Aegean Islands as previously agreed under a 2016 EU-Turkey pact, according to one source.