Budapest prosecutors receive 40 complaints about riot police

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Thursday November 2, 2006

Budapest- The Budapest prosecutor's office has received over 40 complaints about police violence during the riots that blighted the city on October 23, the office's spokesman told MTI news agency on Thursday. Attila Morvai said that 27 legal proceedings had been started in response to people claiming that police used unnecessary force in breaking up anti-government demonstrations on the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Hungary's 1956 Uprising against Soviet rule.

Police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon to drive thousands of anti-government protestors, who responded with bricks, bottles and Molotov cocktails.

Over 160 people were injured and around 130 arrested in the violence.

Unrest has plagued Hungary since late September, when a tape on which Gyurcsany admitted to lying over the state of the economy was leaked to the press.

Main opposition party Fidesz has accused the police of using too much force, and on Saturday is planning a candlelit march for the "victims of brutal police attacks".

European Union Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini asked the Hungarian Justice Ministry to explain the police actions, and the ministry responded by ensuring Frattini that the actions were justified.

More violence is a distinct possibility on Saturday, the 50th anniversary of the day Soviet troops returned to Budapest and crushed the brief rebellion.

Police have granted permission to 29 separate demonstrations, and several groups have been allowed to demonstrate on Freedom Square, the location of the first riots at the end of September.

During the riots on Freedom Square, hundreds of right-wing extremists and football hooligans stormed the building of the state- owned Hungarian television channel.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency