Some Europeans, often said to be apart! (5)

I believe the answer is:

poles

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'some europeans' is the definition.
(Pole is an example)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for poles that I've seen before include "People from Warsaw?" , "Extremities of the earth's axis" , "East Europeans" , "North and south" , "Nationality of citizens of Warsaw" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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