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Ex-Hungary ruler's remains stolen | |
(about 18 hours later) | |
Vandals who desecrated the grave of Hungary's last communist ruler stole some of his remains, police in Budapest have confirmed. | |
One report said Janos Kadar's skull and several other bones, along with an urn with his wife's ashes, were missing. | |
Graffiti reading "a murderer and traitor may not rest in holy ground" was daubed nearby. | Graffiti reading "a murderer and traitor may not rest in holy ground" was daubed nearby. |
His supporters say Kadar set relatively high living standards but critics say his opponents were tortured and killed. | His supporters say Kadar set relatively high living standards but critics say his opponents were tortured and killed. |
'Appalling act' | |
The vandals removed a marble cover stone and broke into the coffin. | The vandals removed a marble cover stone and broke into the coffin. |
"Several bones, including the skull, are missing," Budapest police spokesman Tibor Jarmy told AFP news agency, after the remains were exhumed. | |
Police have formed a 10-member forensic investigation team to track the missing items. | |
Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany described the vandalism as "an appalling, inhumane and cowardly act." | |
Centre-right opposition party Fidesz also condemned the attack. | |
Kadar and his wife, Maria Tamaska, were buried together at Kerepesi Cemetery in the capital. | Kadar and his wife, Maria Tamaska, were buried together at Kerepesi Cemetery in the capital. |
The graffiti was painted on a nearby memorial to communist workers. | The graffiti was painted on a nearby memorial to communist workers. |
Kadar ruled Hungary for 32 years from 1956, when Soviet troops crushed an anti-communist uprising. | Kadar ruled Hungary for 32 years from 1956, when Soviet troops crushed an anti-communist uprising. |
He remains a controversial figure in modern Hungary. | He remains a controversial figure in modern Hungary. |
While opponents claim thousands of opponents of communism were tortured, imprisoned or killed during his regime, others remember him as Hungary's greatest statesman. | While opponents claim thousands of opponents of communism were tortured, imprisoned or killed during his regime, others remember him as Hungary's greatest statesman. |
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