Thousands peacefully protest in Budapest against Hungarian PM

Tens of thousands of people have rallied peacefully in Budapest in the biggest demonstration so far against Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany over his admission that he lied to the electorate.

An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 demonstrators calling for Mr Gyurcsany's resignation gathered outside the huge neo-Gothic parliament, where protests have been held for the past week.

But there was no repeat of the violence which marred earlier rallies and put riot police on full alert.

Mr Gyurcsany was unmoved, saying he will stay in power and pledging to implement the painful tax rises and spending cuts that have caused his government's popularity to plummet to 25 per cent in recent polls from 40 per cent at April's election.

"I will continue on because I still have much to do here," Mr Gyurcsany told German magazine Focus in an interview.

Demonstrators carrying Hungarian flags and singing patriotic songs said they would stay the course in hoping they could eventually force out the 45-year-old millionaire Socialist.

Source: ABC Austrialia News Online