 |
|
Protesters staged their biggest demonstrations in Budapest on Saturday to press their demand for Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany to resign for lying to voters. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
Photo Gallery >>> |
BUDAPEST, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Protesters staged their biggest demonstrations on Saturday to press their demand for Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany to resign for lying to voters.
Up to 20,000 people gathered in front of the parliament on Kossuth Square, waving national flags and singing nationalist songs.
Unlike the previous nights which had witnessed violence, most of the demonstrators left peacefully after midnight. Police in riot gear with helmets and shields were deployed nearby.
With opposition parties rejecting talks and Gyurcsany vowing to restore order, the standoff is expected to escalate. In the past few days, more and more sympathizers have joined the initially hundreds of demonstrators.
The protest started last Sunday after the leak of a tape about a Socialist party meeting in May, in which Gyurcsany said his government had lied to the public about the state of the country's economy.
The next day, Hungary's main opposition Fidesz and its ally Christian Democrat KDNP called on the government to resign.
Angry protesters took to the streets, demanding the resignation of the prime minister, who has steadfastly rejected it. Riots broke out on Tuesday, leaving around 150 people injured.
Earlier Wednesday, Gyurcsany called for holding his first face-to-face talks with the opposition since the rioting began, and said in the meantime he would take measures to restore order.
But the opposition Fidesz party has rejected any meeting with the Socialist-led government, which it says is "illegitimate." Enditem
Related:
Hungarian police clash with protesters in Budapest
 |
|
A car burns in front of the state television building during a protest in Budapest, Sept. 19, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
Photo Gallery >>> |
Hungary's parliamentary parties discuss declaration on rejecting violence
BUDAPEST, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's five parliamentary parties held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss a joint declaration calling on people to express their opinions without resorting to violence. >>>
Hungarian protesters set fire to state TV buildings
BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Thousands of protesters set fire to Hungary's state television building early Tuesday after a rally outside national parliament denouncing Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany as a liar. Smoke and tear gas wreathed the headquarters of state television MTV, where riot police clashed with demonstrators. >>>
Hungarian PM asked to resign for lying to voters
BUDAPEST, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Hungarian protesters gathered in front of the parliament on Kossuth square on Monday morning, demanding that Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany and his government resign for having "lied" to voters. >>>
Hungarian PM vows to restore social order
BUDAPEST, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said on Tuesday that he had asked police to use all necessary means to restore social order. >>>
