BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - Hungary's prime minister and the main opposition party traded accusations of blame Tuesday for rioting that broke out in the capital and marred 50th anniversary commemorations of the uprising against the former communist government.
The riots Monday in central Budapest injured 167 people and caused more than C$1 million in damage, authorities said.
Prime Minister Fernc Gyurcsany, who has clung to power in the face of public demands he resign for lying about the economy to win April's election, accused the rightist opposition Fidesz party of inciting the riots by implying attacks on the leftist government were patriotic acts.
"The radical words became radical deeds," Gyurcsany said in the legislature.
"The connection is absolutely clear."
Fidesz deputy Maria Wittner - who had been sentenced to death for taking part in the 1956 uprising and spent more than 10 years in prison - called for Gyurcsany's resignation because of police action against the demonstrators.
"It was Gyurcsany's decision which caused blood to flow again on the streets of the city," Wittner said.
Public health authorities said 167 people had been treated at hospitals, including 17 police - one of whom was seriously injured. Of the 150 civilians treated, 13 had serious injuries.
Police Chief Peter Gergenyi said 131 people had been detained but the number is likely to rise as police work on identifying more suspects.
At one point, protesters hijacked a Soviet-era tank that was part of an exhibit on the uprising and drove it toward police, until officers rushed the vehicle and pulled out its driver.
The trouble began early that day when police expelled protesters from Kossuth Square, outside the legislature, as part of security measures for the official commemorations.
Crowds have been staging demonstrations there since Sept. 17, when the Socialist prime minister was heard admitting on a leaked recording that the government had lied about the economy before winning re-election.
By the afternoon, police were firing rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons to disperse the thousands of protesters, most of whom were peacefully demanding to be allowed back into Kossuth Square to commemorate the anniversary.
Gergenyi said Tuesday the square would remain off-limits to protesters for the time being, to guarantee the legislature security.
He said police acted under the law and did not use excessive force against the rioters.
"The life and physical integrity of the officers was threatened," Gergenyi said after he was questioned about police methods used to disperse the rioters.
"The police were not aggressive but courageous and tough."
Gergenyi said they had repeatedly warned people to leave the areas where confrontations were taking place.
