Athens - Clashes between illegal immigrants battling to board ferries bound for Italy from the western Greek port of Patras are on the rise and local authorities and residents are appealing for help to contain the violence, reports said Tuesday.

Fights between Afghan and African immigrants about who can attempt to sneak aboard daily ferries to Italy have broken out in recent weeks.

Hundreds of Afghan immigrants live in makeshift camps at the port in Patras. The camps have gradually been established over the past few years to accommodate the immigrants who daily try to illegally board ferries to Italy.

The Africans, mainly from war-torn states such as Somalia and Sudan, are seen as a threat by the Afghans, who believe that they are trying to take their place in line for a ferry, the daily Kathimerini newspaper said in a report.

Police say incidents of groups of Afghans attacking groups of Africans, usually Somalis, occur on an almost daily basis near the port.

"We are worried that some unsuspecting passer-by might get injured," Achaia Regional Police Chief Vassilis Constantopoulos was quoted by Kathimerini as saying.

"Imagine two frenzied groups preparing to attack each other with iron bars - who is going to help," he added.

Police say they need at least another 40 full-time officers to handle some 300 Afghan migrants and hundreds more Africans and fear that tensions will rise unless action is taken.

The worst clash to date occurred over the weekend when some 100 Afghans wielding iron bars and other weapons charged at a group of Africans.

"The worst has yet to come," Constantopoulos warned. (dpa)