Greek officials begin efforts to process Syrian migrants on Kos

Hundreds of Syrian refugees on the Greek island of Kos have finally boarded a passenger ship where they will be processed by Greek officials.

Embarkation had been delayed for more than 24 hours, with tempers flaring among groups of migrants on the island as they waited in the intense summer heat.

The Syrians are given priority as they are fleeing their country's civil war and are treated as refugees, which gives them greater rights under international law.

Other groups of migrants, including Afghans and Iranians, are considered economic migrants and will have to wait.

The ship, a car ferry named The Eleftherios Venizelos, is to provide accommodation for around 2,500 people in its cabins and an area for processing paperwork.

It has been chartered by the Greek government for the purpose.

Observers said that once embarkation began it was carried out in an orderly fashion.

After some minor disagreements among the migrants over who would go first, they queued up on the quayside and boarded in groups of 20.