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| Riots over Hungarian PM's 'lies' | Riots over Hungarian PM's 'lies' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Hungarian police have used tear gas and water cannon to quell violent overnight protests in Budapest in which buildings were attacked and cars set alight. | Hungarian police have used tear gas and water cannon to quell violent overnight protests in Budapest in which buildings were attacked and cars set alight. |
| The clashes happened following a rally demanding the resignation of PM Ferenc Gyurcsany, after it was revealed his government had lied during an election. | The clashes happened following a rally demanding the resignation of PM Ferenc Gyurcsany, after it was revealed his government had lied during an election. |
| The worst fighting came when protesters stormed the state television building. | The worst fighting came when protesters stormed the state television building. |
| Dozens of people were hurt, including many police officers. The city is now said to be calm. | Dozens of people were hurt, including many police officers. The city is now said to be calm. |
| It was the first such unrest to take place in Hungary since the fall of communism and the establishment of democracy in the late 1980s. | It was the first such unrest to take place in Hungary since the fall of communism and the establishment of democracy in the late 1980s. |
| An emergency meeting of the national security cabinet was called for Tuesday morning. The main opposition party, the centre-right Fidesz, says it will boycott parliament. | An emergency meeting of the national security cabinet was called for Tuesday morning. The main opposition party, the centre-right Fidesz, says it will boycott parliament. |
| Petition | Petition |
| The BBC's Nick Thorpe, in central Budapest, says the trouble at the state television station began when a small group of protesters who had spent the day outside parliament tried to hand in a petition. | The BBC's Nick Thorpe, in central Budapest, says the trouble at the state television station began when a small group of protesters who had spent the day outside parliament tried to hand in a petition. |
| The police used tear gas and water cannon on a group of protesters who broke into the building. For a brief period the station went off the air. | The police used tear gas and water cannon on a group of protesters who broke into the building. For a brief period the station went off the air. |
| We screwed up. Not a little, a lot. No European country has done something as boneheaded as we have Ferenc GyurcsanyExcerpt from leaked tape recorded in April | We screwed up. Not a little, a lot. No European country has done something as boneheaded as we have Ferenc GyurcsanyExcerpt from leaked tape recorded in April |
| "Nothing like this has happened since 1956," one young protester told Reuters news agency, referring to Hungary's failed uprising against Soviet rule in October 1956. | "Nothing like this has happened since 1956," one young protester told Reuters news agency, referring to Hungary's failed uprising against Soviet rule in October 1956. |
| Officials told state news 150 people were injured in the violence, including 102 police officers. | Officials told state news 150 people were injured in the violence, including 102 police officers. |
| Our correspondent says the city is now mostly quiet, with only a handful of protesters left in the area. | Our correspondent says the city is now mostly quiet, with only a handful of protesters left in the area. |
| Earlier Mr Gyurcsany told the state news service he had no plans to resign. | Earlier Mr Gyurcsany told the state news service he had no plans to resign. |
| "The street is not a solution, but instead causes conflict and crisis," he said. "Our job is to resolve the conflict and prevent a crisis." | "The street is not a solution, but instead causes conflict and crisis," he said. "Our job is to resolve the conflict and prevent a crisis." |
| He said those who had called for a "radical solution" to Hungary's problems were also partly to blame. | He said those who had called for a "radical solution" to Hungary's problems were also partly to blame. |
| Smaller protests were also held in other cities around Hungary. | Smaller protests were also held in other cities around Hungary. |
| Leaked tape | Leaked tape |
| Mr Gyurcsany's comments, which sparked the violence, were heard in a tape of a meeting he had with his MPs a few weeks after April's election, and leaked to local media on Sunday. | Mr Gyurcsany's comments, which sparked the violence, were heard in a tape of a meeting he had with his MPs a few weeks after April's election, and leaked to local media on Sunday. |
| In excerpts broadcast on state radio, Mr Gyurcsany says harsh economic reforms are needed. | In excerpts broadcast on state radio, Mr Gyurcsany says harsh economic reforms are needed. |
| "There is not much choice. There is not, because we screwed up. Not a little, a lot. No European country has done something as boneheaded as we have. | "There is not much choice. There is not, because we screwed up. Not a little, a lot. No European country has done something as boneheaded as we have. |
| "Evidently, we lied throughout the last year-and-a-half, two years... You cannot quote any significant government measure we can be proud of, other than at the end we managed to bring the government back from the brink. Nothing." | "Evidently, we lied throughout the last year-and-a-half, two years... You cannot quote any significant government measure we can be proud of, other than at the end we managed to bring the government back from the brink. Nothing." |
| In a speech sprinkled with obscenities, Mr Gyurcsany says: "We lied in the morning, we lied in the evening." | In a speech sprinkled with obscenities, Mr Gyurcsany says: "We lied in the morning, we lied in the evening." |
| 'Telling the truth' | 'Telling the truth' |
| The prime minister has received the backing of Socialist MPs who on Monday voted unanimously to support him. | The prime minister has received the backing of Socialist MPs who on Monday voted unanimously to support him. |
| Police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators | Police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators |
| However, Hungary's President, Laszlo Solyom, said Mr Gyurcsany had created a "moral crisis", and opposition parties have called for his resignation. | However, Hungary's President, Laszlo Solyom, said Mr Gyurcsany had created a "moral crisis", and opposition parties have called for his resignation. |
| Matyas Oersi, an MP with the Free Democrat Party - the junior coalition partner in the government - told the BBC: "It's a surprise - though understandable - that the people are angry at a political leader who, for the first time, is telling the truth: that the whole political class was lying." | Matyas Oersi, an MP with the Free Democrat Party - the junior coalition partner in the government - told the BBC: "It's a surprise - though understandable - that the people are angry at a political leader who, for the first time, is telling the truth: that the whole political class was lying." |
| Protests had already been planned this week over tough austerity measures imposed following the Socialists' victory in last April's election, which have seen the government's popularity plummet. | Protests had already been planned this week over tough austerity measures imposed following the Socialists' victory in last April's election, which have seen the government's popularity plummet. |
| The measures, imposed under pressure from Brussels, include higher taxes and benefit cuts, are aimed at reducing Hungary's large public deficit. | The measures, imposed under pressure from Brussels, include higher taxes and benefit cuts, are aimed at reducing Hungary's large public deficit. |
| But our correspondent says the leaked revelations were, for some of the protesters, the straw that broke the camel's back. | But our correspondent says the leaked revelations were, for some of the protesters, the straw that broke the camel's back. |
| Local elections are scheduled in two weeks' time. The Socialists and their liberal coalition allies are trailing Fidesz in the polls. | Local elections are scheduled in two weeks' time. The Socialists and their liberal coalition allies are trailing Fidesz in the polls. |
| Have Your Say: Are you affected by turmoil in Hungary? |