EU asks Hungary to explain alleged police violence
27 Oct 2006 20:07:59 GMT Source: Reuters
(Adds opposition leader's comments, police) BRUSSELS, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The European Commission has asked Hungary to explain allegations that police used excessive violence to break up anti-government protests in which dozens were injured, the EU executive said on Friday. Riots marred the 50th anniversary of the country's anti-Soviet uprising on Monday, with 167 people injured including 17 policemen, as police used rubber bullets, water cannon and tear gas to disperse mostly far-right rioters. "We were informed by some European parliamentarians and civil society groups of some violence by riot police both inside and outside the demonstrations," a spokesman for EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said. "A letter was sent yesterday to Justice Minister Jozsef Petretei asking for information and clarification and especially the findings of their own inquiries. No accusation is contained, we are just establishing the facts," he added. A leaked tape recording of Hungary's Socialist Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany admitting he lied about the parlous state of the budget to win April's election triggered the biggest protests since communism ended in 1989. Anti-government protesters have staged daily demonstrations outside parliament demanding Gyurcsany step down, but he has resisted the calls and his governing coalition said it was firmly backing him and his economic programme. Hungary's main right-of-centre opposition party Fidesz said police used unacceptable violence against peaceful protesters, and demanded Budapest police chief Peter Gergenyi resign. About a dozen complaints have been filed against the police. Riot police chief Jozsef Dobozi told local media that an investigation had been launched into Monday's police action. Opposition leader Viktor Orban said he believed police must have acted under political orders from the government. "I rule out that police leaders would have dared to order what happened in Budapest unless they felt the political support behind them," Orban told local television HirTV. Gyurcsany blamed the opposition for the riots saying it was Fidesz who chose to take politics to the streets, and boycott parliament's sessions. Fidesz has rejected that accusation. (Additional reporting by Sandor Peto in Budapest)
