Police block migrants' route to France

Hundreds of migrants march towards French border, tear gas used to halt protest.

At least 400 migrants in the Italian town of Ventimiglia set out on a protest march along a road leading to the French border in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police blocked the protesters, mainly African migrants, who were heading to France.

Italian riot police used tear gas to disperse the migrants as they gathered. Some chose to carry their shoes in their hands and to cross the nearby Roja River in an attempt to skirt the police.

Most of the migrants were seen sitting on the road surrounded by police later in the morning after their attempts to cross the border failed. Small groups of migrants also camped out near the Roja River.