Protesters and police clash in Hungary

Hungary's simmering political crisis boiled over on the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian uprising against Soviet rule, as police fired rubber bullets to disperse anti-government protesters. Police intervened with tear gas and water cannons on Oct. 23 as hundreds of marchers headed for a central square after the main commemorative events, attended by European dignitaries, had ended. Several people were reported to be injured. One group of protesters seized a Second World War-era tank which had been on display and drove it towards police lines. Scenes of dazed and bloodied protesters lying on hospital trollies after being hit by rubber bullets provoked national outrage. The images were broadcast as Budapest awoke angry and shocked after the anniversary commemorations sparked the worst violence since the anti-Soviet revolt. The main center-right opposition party, Fidesz, has orchestrated a month of often violent protests in Budapest after the socialist prime minister, Ferenc Gyurcsány, admitted in a leaked speech last month that his government had consistently lied to the public to win an election last April. "We lied in the morning, we lied in the evening," he told a party meeting. Hundreds of people have been injured since then in pitched battles between demonstrators and police. The air was again thick with tear gas on Oct. 23 after police intervened to prevent masked demonstrators reaching parliament. Fidesz members of Parliament (MPs) demanded an inquiry after police forced a minority of militants into the main peaceful demonstration, organized by the party, where tens of thousands of protesters had gathered. The move caused chaos and panic as families and the elderly found themselves choking on tear gas and fleeing from fusillades of rubber bullets. Police said that 131 people had been arrested and the number was likely to rise. About 167 people were injured, including 10 policemen and a Fidesz MP. Protesters accused the police of widespread brutality. Witnesses said that officers fired rubber bullets at the crowd and aimed tear gas canisters directly at people. There is widespread anger that the commemoration of the uprising, for many the proudest moment in Hungarian history, has been led by Gyurcsány, who was a youth leader in the Communist Party–the party that helped the Soviet Union to crush the uprising. "The Socialists are the descendants of the Communists. They helped themselves to the nation's riches. Gyurcsány admitted that he lied and he should step down," said Marta Toth, a 45-year-old housewife. The ceremony outside parliament, when international dignitaries laid flowers at the 1956 memorial, was marred by crowds of protesters shouting "Out with Gyurcsány," their chants clearly audible on the podium. Maria Kiss, 36, a management consultant, said: "It was a peaceful demonstration, then everyone started shouting that the police were firing tear gas and rubber bullets. We have had enough of Gyurcsány and the lies. It is ridiculous that the Socialists are celebrating 1956 when the prime minister does not dare to go out and give a speech. He should resign." Some 2,600 Hungarians died in the 1956 uprising. More than 200 were executed for their role in the rebellion and 200,000 fled the country.