UPDATE - Belgian police use teargas on anti-migration protesters

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS

By Ata Ufuk Seker

BRUSSELS (AA) - Police in the Belgian capital Brussels on Sunday used teargas and anti-riot vehicles to disperse a large number of far-right and anti-migration protesters near the EU buildings.

Around 1,000 protesters gathered at Schuman Square to demonstrate against the UN Migration Pact, signed in an international conference in Morocco earlier this month.

UN member states adopted a global migration agreement -- The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) -- at a UN conference in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh on Dec. 10.

The compact includes a series of principles, including the defense of human rights, the rights of children, the recognition of national sovereignty, an index to assist the countries in addressing migration, and measures to improve the integration of migrants and the exchange of experiences.

Calling on Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel to resign, the protesters also chanted slogans against the government and migration.

As the police attempted to disperse the crowd with teargas and water cannon vehicles, the protesters tried to enter the EU Commission building.

Anti-immigrant political party Vlaams Belang’s leader Filip Dewinter made a speech during the protests.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people also gathered in Rue du Congres near Brussels’ city center, upon a call from some non-governmental organizations and foundations.

The demonstrators supported the signing of the UN pact and chanted slogans in support of the migrants.

They walked through Maximilien Park, where a large number of migrants live.