The clashes lasted for several hours. They appear to have followed an argument between a youth and an elderly resident of the temporary migrant center on the site of a former airport at Kassel-Calden in northern Germany on Sunday afternoon.

Police said arguments have often broken out before but that this time there was a physical confrontation between one group of about 300 and another of 70 people.

Eight refugees were taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries.

Late on Sunday buses arrived to take some of the residents to another center.

Police moved in with officials to end the dispute. Three officials and three refugees were injured. Investigations for resisting law enforcement officer instructions and aggravated assault have been opened but there have been no arrests.

There are about 1,500 asylum seekers from about 20 different countries including Syria, Albania and Pakistan being housed at the center. The center was originally set up to house a thousand people.

While many refugees are content to sleep in peace away from war, others have expressed frustration and doubt that they will be granted asylum.

Germany is expecting up to 1 million migrants to arrive in the country before the end of the year.

On Sunday, President Joachim Gauck said "Our absorption capacity is limited, even if it has not yet been decided where these limits lie."

jm/bw (dpa, AFP)