HUNGARY: Thousands take part in protests against Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany in central Budapest

A crowd in central Budapest hold a noisy protest against Hungary's Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, calling for his resignation in a new campagn against the Socialist leader. Thousands of people across Hungary protested against the country's Socialist prime minister at ceremonies marking the Hungarian national day on Thursday (March 15), demanding his resignation and shouting "traitor". The protests marked a renewed campaign to oust Ferenc Gyurcsany, whose admission in a leaked tape that he lied about the state of the budget to win the 2006 election led to weeks of violent demonstrations last year. A crowd of about 300 people shouted "go, Gyurcsany, go" and "communist pig" at a ceremony outside parliament, the building at the focus of last year's unrest in which 800 people were injured. A heavy police presence kept the demonstrators, carrying Hungarian flags and a red-and-white striped banners associated with the far right, away from the building, which gas been surrounded by barricades since the autumn protests. Thousands jeered Gyurcsany in a ceremony at the national museum, the site of the start of an 1848 uprising against Habsburg rule, which Thursday's holiday commemorates. Gyurcsany later joined Budapest Mayor Gabor Demszky, who had to be protected with umbrellas against eggs thrown by the whistling, booing crowd during a speech on the March 15 Square. Police said they were prepared for trouble but did not expect a repeat of last year's clashes. There were demonstrations in other cities but no reports of violence. Far-right groups have said they will try to join a rally of the main opposition party later. It is expected to attract tens of thousands of people. Some people in the streets said friends had stayed away out of fear. Since winning elections last April, Gyurcsany's government has broken campaign promises, increasing taxes and cutting spending to reduce Hungary's budget deficit which, at 10 percent of gross domestic product, is the biggest in the European Union.

ITN Source | March 16, 2007

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