Govts to step up expulsions of migrants

European Union governments agreed on Thursday to step up deportations of illegal immigrants and discussed creating an EU border force, among other measures, to cope with hundreds of thousands fleeing Syria or other countries.

Underlining the havoc brought by chaotic mass treks across Europe's open borders in recent months, the German state of Bavaria threatened to break ranks with Berlin and send back to Austria any migrants who cross its alpine frontier.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose welcome to refugees has taken a toll on her ratings, insists she will not shut the door. Her deputy said there could be no pulling up of "drawbridges". Austria's interior minister warned of possible border riots.