IDOMENI, Greece—Macedonia became the latest European country to build a border fence on Saturday, as hundreds of migrants remained stranded on the Greek side of the border.

As the army began erecting the metal fence, minor clashes broke out, with migrants throwing rocks at Macedonian police, who responded with tear gas.

Macedonia, like Serbia and Croatia, has in recent days blocked migrants from countries other than Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq from crossing its territory on their way to Northern Europe. The tightened security measures come amid heightened fears since the Paris attacks that militants are traveling into the region among refugee inflows.

"We will allow passage for the people who come from war-affected regions as we have done so far," Macedonian government spokesman Aleksandar Gjorgjiev was cited as saying by local media.

The move has left about 1,000 migrants from countries such as Iran, Pakistan and Morocco stranded at the village of Idomeni on the Greek border with Macedonia, according to Greek officials.

Many have camped outside, near the border checkpoint, and some blocked a nearby railway line, preventing trains from leaving or entering Greece, causing problems to exporters and transportation companies.

Earlier this week, a group of Iranians sewed their mouths shut in protest against stricter border controls, while about a dozen migrants went on hunger strike, according to volunteers.

As frustrations grow, so do the outbursts of violence. Scuffles have broken out over food among migrants camped near the border.

On Thursday, several hundred tried to push their way past Macedonian border guards. Five managed to get through, only to be turned back to Greece minutes later.

"The longer they are there, the more aggravated and violent they become. These people are hungry and exhausted," said a Greek government official.

"There is also a lot of confusion. It is hard trying to explain to them why last week their compatriots were allowed through but now they can't," he said.

Macedonia's decision to build a fence follows similar moves by other European countries on the migrant trail. In recent months, Hungary built a fence along its border with Croatia, while Austria announced similar plans on the Slovenian border.

Write to Stelios Bouras at stelios.bouras@wsj.com and Nektaria Stamouli at nektaria.stamouli@wsj.com

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 29, 2015 20:25 ET (01:25 GMT)