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Rubber bullets at Hungary protest Hungary police tackle protesters
(about 7 hours later)
Police in Hungary have fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters during commemorations of the 1956 uprising against Soviet rule. Hungarian police are tackling the remnants of a group of violent protesters who disrupted celebrations marking the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising.
Clashes took place with about 1,000 demonstrators close to parliament where officials had earlier laid flowers on the 50th anniversary of the revolt. Tear gas and rubber bullets were used to quell anti-government protests in Budapest, where officials laid flowers to mark the uprising 50 years ago.
Some protesters were in a tank they had taken from an uprising exhibition. Some protesters commandeered a tank taken from an uprising exhibition.
Hungary has seen bitter political division since PM Ferenc Gyurcsany admitted he lied to win re-election. Opposition to PM Ferenc Gyurcsany turned violent last month after he admitted lying to win re-election.
Some veterans of the uprising refused to shake hands with him. Some veterans of the 1956 uprising refused to shake hands with him at Monday's commemoration and the main opposition Fidesz party said it was boycotting events where he would speak.
Knives Mr Gyurcsany caused political uproar recently when he admitted he had lied to the public about the economy.
The latest clashes have been in Elizabeth and Deak squares, about 2km from parliament. But he denied any comparison between Monday's protests and their 1956 counterparts.
The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest said long lines of riot police were moving down streets and firing rubber bullets into crowds. "The majority of Hungarians believe that parliamentary democracy is the most suited to express people's will and to create law and give a programme to a free Hungary," he said.
Clashes
By the end of Monday, the number of protesters had dwindled from several thousand to a few hundred, most of them barricaded around Budapest's Elizabeth Bridge.
The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest said long lines of riot police had moved down the streets, firing rubber bullets into crowds.
Our correspondent said he saw one man being carried away with what looked like a head wound from a rubber bullet.Our correspondent said he saw one man being carried away with what looked like a head wound from a rubber bullet.
The Hungarian flag was paraded before international dignitaries In pictures: Uprising marked Day of unity dashed Budapest clashes: EyewitnessThe Hungarian flag was paraded before international dignitaries In pictures: Uprising marked Day of unity dashed Budapest clashes: Eyewitness
The disturbances were taking place on the edge of a much bigger, peaceful demonstration, he said, adding that the picture in Budapest was confusing with several groups marching through the city to events at different locations. The day's disturbances took place on the edge of a much bigger, peaceful demonstration, he said, adding that the picture in Budapest was confusing with several groups marching through the city to events at different locations.
It was difficult to tell whether the groups carrying Hungarian flags were marking 1956 or taking part in anti-government protests, our correspondent said.It was difficult to tell whether the groups carrying Hungarian flags were marking 1956 or taking part in anti-government protests, our correspondent said.
In one incident police rushed an unarmed tank - similar to one used by the Soviets to quash the rebellion - that was being driven among the protesters. At least one man was pulled from the tank. In one incident, police rushed to stop an unarmed tank - similar to one used by the Soviets to quash the rebellion - that was being driven among the protesters. At least one man was pulled from the tank.
The possibility of clashes had prompted the government to close Kossuth Square outside parliament and urge the media to stay away.
Budapest's police chief said protest organisers had broken an agreement with them and there was a "considerable quantity" of knives and other weapons.
The local MTI news agency said tear gas was also used at Budapest's Western Railway Station and that water cannon was used at another location.
The agency said the protesters had been throwing rocks and pieces of metal at security forces.The agency said the protesters had been throwing rocks and pieces of metal at security forces.
Protesters have been present outside parliament for weeks, but were forced back in the early hours of Monday to make way for the official ceremonies.Protesters have been present outside parliament for weeks, but were forced back in the early hours of Monday to make way for the official ceremonies.
President Laszlo Solyom has appealed for national unity.President Laszlo Solyom has appealed for national unity.
BoycottBoycott
Monday's events began with dignitaries taking turns to place white roses at the black marble monument to the uprising outside parliament, before heading inside to adopt a declaration of freedom.Monday's events began with dignitaries taking turns to place white roses at the black marble monument to the uprising outside parliament, before heading inside to adopt a declaration of freedom.
There was also to be a ceremony of remembrance at the statue of Imre Nagy, who was the reformist prime minister at the time. The Hungarian 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 main opposition Fidesz party said it was boycotting official anniversary events at which Prime Minister Gyurcsany is speaking, and holding 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.
But he denied any comparison between Monday's protests and their 1956 counterparts.
"The majority of Hungarians believe that parliamentary democracy is the most suited to express people's will and to create law and give a programme to a free Hungary," he said.
Stalin's statue
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.
In pictures: 1956 uprising The Soviets nearly blinked
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.
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.
The BBC's Allan 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 Allan 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".
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