Cyprus police said yesterday they have arrested 21 people after violent clashes between Cypriots and migrants near the resort city of Paphos, where authorities have started removing Syrians from a condemned apartment complex.

There has long been friction between asylum-seekers and residents of Chlorakas town.

Tensions flared on Sunday, police said, when a protest against the migrants escalated into splinter groups vandalising and damaging property belonging to the foreign residents, in racially motivated attacks.

European Union member Cyprus argues it is a "frontline country" on the Mediterranean migrant route. Last year, according to EU data, it had the highest number of first-time asylum applications relative to population in the 27-member bloc.

Video footage on social media showed a group of Greek Cypriots chanting "get out, get out" during the demonstration. It turned violent, police say, when the Greek Cypriots came face-to-face with a group of Syrian migrants.

The violence continued on Monday evening after around 500 Syrians held a peaceful counter-protest, according to police, who said they used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the Greek Cypriots and migrants.