Controversy surrounds Greece's efforts to deal with a growing influx of immigrants. The government is planning to create seven detention centres to hold illegal immigrants, to get them out of city centres and place them under tight control.

But human rights groups claim the government's plans are violating the rights of genuine asylum seekers fleeing war and persecution.

Some migrant groups have held protests against their treatment, ending in confrontation with police.

Al Jazeera's Barnaby Phillips reports from Athens.