Belgium reintroduces passport controls

Belgium - a member of the Schengen Agreement abolishing passport controls throughout most of Europe - has reintroduced checks at all border crossings.

It says it needs to counter an increase in asylum-seekers.

The border controls will be stepped up day-by-day from the beginning of next week and will remain in force until 10 January, when asylum-seekers will stop receiving financial aid from the authorities.

This is the third time this year that Belgium has reinstated border controls.

The Schengen Agreement allows signatories to reintroduce controls temporarily for reasons of national security or public order.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service