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| Protests hit Hungary 1956 events | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ceremonies have begun in Hungary to mark the 50th anniversary of the failed uprising against Soviet rule, but only after police broke up angry protests. | |
| Outside parliament, foreign dignitaries joined the prime minister and president to lay flowers as the national anthem was played and the flag raised. | |
| Just hours earlier, police cleared hundreds of protesters from the square. | |
| The events are taking place amid bitter political disputes and opposition to prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany. | |
| Some veterans of the uprising refused to shake hands with the prime minister, who recently admitted that he lied to win re-election. | |
| Protesters have been present outside parliament for weeks, but were forced back by police in the early hours of Monday to make way for the official ceremonies. | |
| President Laszlo Solyom has appealed for national unity. | |
| He said the entire nation shared the demand for Hungarian independence during the uprising, which was suppressed in a bloody intervention by Soviet forces. | He said the entire nation shared the demand for Hungarian independence during the uprising, which was suppressed in a bloody intervention by Soviet forces. |
| Boycott | Boycott |
| Monday's events include the unveiling in Budapest's Heroes Square of a huge monument to those who died in the events of 1956. | Monday's events include the unveiling in Budapest's Heroes Square of a huge monument to those who died in the events of 1956. |
| Hungarians explore a tank display as part of the anniversary href="/1/hi/world/europe/5396334.stm" class="">Pressure mounts on PM | |
| There was also to be a ceremony of remembrance at the statue of Imre Nagy, who was the reformist prime minister at the time. | There was also to be a ceremony of remembrance at the statue of Imre Nagy, who was the reformist prime minister at the time. |
| Inside parliament the Budapest 1956 Freedom Declaration will be signed. | Inside parliament the Budapest 1956 Freedom Declaration will be signed. |
| The national flag being flown over many of the ceremonies is notable for having a hole in the centre - echoing the gesture of protesters at the time, who cut the Soviet insignia from the middle of the Hungarian banner. | The national flag being flown over many of the ceremonies is notable for having a hole in the centre - echoing the gesture of protesters at the time, who cut the Soviet insignia from the middle of the Hungarian banner. |
| However, the main opposition Fidesz party has said it will boycott official anniversary events at which Prime Minister Gyurcsany, a former communist youth leader, is speaking. | However, the main opposition Fidesz party has said it will boycott official anniversary events at which Prime Minister Gyurcsany, a former communist youth leader, is speaking. |
| It will hold its own rally close to the state radio building, the scene of bitter fighting in 1956. | It will hold its own rally close to the state radio building, the scene of bitter fighting in 1956. |
| Mr Gyurcsany caused political uproar recently when he admitted he had lied to the public about the economy. | Mr Gyurcsany caused political uproar recently when he admitted he had lied to the public about the economy. |
| 'First home of hope' | 'First home of hope' |
| Speaking at the Hungarian State Opera, President Solyom said some Hungarians were using the commemorations to serve their own interests. | Speaking at the Hungarian State Opera, President Solyom said some Hungarians were using the commemorations to serve their own interests. |
| "[Politicians] are not only celebrating apart, they are celebrating different things... I however say: there is only one revolution of 1956," he said. | "[Politicians] are not only celebrating apart, they are celebrating different things... I however say: there is only one revolution of 1956," he said. |
| Mr Gyurcsany and Serbian President Boris Tadic unveiled a memorial at the Serbian Embassy, where Nagy had sought asylum. | Mr Gyurcsany and Serbian President Boris Tadic unveiled a memorial at the Serbian Embassy, where Nagy had sought asylum. |
| "For many, this building was first the home of hope," Mr Gyurcsany said. "Unfortunately, the road of lies began here." | "For many, this building was first the home of hope," Mr Gyurcsany said. "Unfortunately, the road of lies began here." |
| Swift response | Swift response |
| The uprising started in Budapest on 23 October 1956, with a spontaneous demonstration by a crowd of about 23,000, the reading of a pro-democracy manifesto and the singing of banned national songs. | The uprising started in Budapest on 23 October 1956, with a spontaneous demonstration by a crowd of about 23,000, the reading of a pro-democracy manifesto and the singing of banned national songs. |
| By evening, there were 200,000 people in the centre of Budapest. | By evening, there were 200,000 people in the centre of Budapest. |
| The protest was crushed less than two weeks after it began | The protest was crushed less than two weeks after it began |
| A giant statue of Stalin was pulled down, leaving only the dictator's boots on the pedestal. | A giant statue of Stalin was pulled down, leaving only the dictator's boots on the pedestal. |
| Soviet tanks were forced to withdraw, but returned with devastating force a week later. | Soviet tanks were forced to withdraw, but returned with devastating force a week later. |
| Air and artillery assaults on Hungarian cities preceded an armoured invasion by 17 tank and infantry divisions. | Air and artillery assaults on Hungarian cities preceded an armoured invasion by 17 tank and infantry divisions. |
| Imre Nagy, the reforming prime minister, made a final impassioned plea to the outside world by radio. | Imre Nagy, the reforming prime minister, made a final impassioned plea to the outside world by radio. |
| He and hundreds of others were arrested and executed, among thousands of Hungarians who died. | He and hundreds of others were arrested and executed, among thousands of Hungarians who died. |
| The BBC's Alan Little says the uprising was the moment the world accepted the post-war partition of Europe and the apparent permanence of what Winston Churchill had called "the Iron Curtain". | The BBC's Alan Little says the uprising was the moment the world accepted the post-war partition of Europe and the apparent permanence of what Winston Churchill had called "the Iron Curtain". |
| Are you in Hungary? Are you attending any of the events marking the anniversary? You can send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in Hungary? Are you attending any of the events marking the anniversary? You can send us your experiences using the form below. |
| You can also send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can also send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |