Hungary's Prime Minister has reportedly called for an anti-extremist rally to be held after far-right groups attacked marchers at Saturday's gay pride parade in Budapest.
The clash was said to have lasted several hours as the police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the extremists who hurled eggs and cobblestones at parade participants, and gasoline bombs at the police; PM Ferenc Gyurcsány (above)
The protesters, many of them from ultra-nationalist groups, shouted out anti-gay epithets, and hurled eggs and cobblestones at parade participants; and gasoline bombs at the police.
A gay bar and a massage parlour were attacked with gasoline bombs in the week leading up to the parade although no one was injured and little damage was done to the buildings.
Following the clash, PM Ferenc Gyurcsány announced that a rally against extremists will be held on Sep 6.
News web site Politics.hu quoted the PM, who called the recent violent attacks the "final straw" as saying, "This is not a police, nor a gay, nor a Jewish, nor a Gypsy, but a common cause."
PM Gyurcsány further called on public dignitaries to "discuss why the majority of society appears to be weak in the face of extremists who terrorise the majority, and what is missing from the system of constitutional and democratic institutions."
Starting in January, all Hungarians involved in long-term relationships will be allowed to register their partnerships and enjoy some of the benefits of married couples, such as inheriting from each other. This will apply to heterosexual and same-sex couples.