Tear gas, rubber bullets and water canons were fired in the centre of Budapest during a national holiday. Hungarian police was sent to forcefully break up a peaceful demonstration in front of parliament that gathered on the 50th anniversary of the country’s revolt against Soviet regime.

The government and the police wanted to clear the square in front of parliament so that state ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution and featuring dignitaries from several countries could go as planned.

A local news agency reported tear gas, rubber bullets and water canons were fired in the centre of Budapest, injuring several people.

Although the protesters promised that they wouldn’t disturb the official ceremonies they fought back by seizing a tank which was on exhibit for the anniversary.

The anti-government protests in Hungary were triggered by a leaked speech from Socialist Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany who admitted to lying to the public “day and night” in order to win national elections.

The 1956 revolution is a public holiday in Hungary. Most people in the Eastern European country regard this day as the finest moment of their history, BBC notes.

Originally published on hungaria.org’s “Revolution ’06” commemoration pages, October 2006. Recovered from archive.