Thousands of people protested against Hungary's Socialist prime minister at ceremonies to mark the country's national holiday on Thursday, demanding his resignation and shouting "traitor".
The protests marked a renewed campaign to oust Ferenc Gyurcsany, whose admission in a leaked tape that he lied about the state of the budget to win 2006 elections triggered seven weeks of violent demonstrations last year.
A crowd of around 300 people shouted "Go, Gyurcsany, go" and "communist pig" during a ceremony outside parliament, the building at the focus of last year's unrest in which 800 demonstrators and police were injured.
A heavy police presence kept the demonstrators, carrying Hungarian flags and a red-and-white striped banners associated with the far right, far away from the building, which has been surrounded by barricades since the autumn protests.
Thousands also jeered at Gyurcsany in a ceremony at the national museum, the site of the start of an 1848 uprising against Habsburg rule, which Thursday's holiday commemorates.
Gyurcsany later joined Budapest Mayor Gabor Demszky, who had to be protected with umbrellas against eggs thrown from the whistling, booing crowd during a speech on the March 15 Square. "The mercenaries of fear are among us again. It is because of them that many people awaited the anniversary of our most peaceful revolution with fear," said Demszky, a member of the junior ruling partner Alliance of Free Democrats.
"There are more people with us, no matter how loud this minority is whistling here." Police have said they are prepared for trouble but do not expect a repeat of last year's clashes. There were also demonstrations in other major cities but no reports of violence.
Far-right groups have said they will try to join a rally of the main opposition party in the afternoon. It is expected to attract tens of thousands of people. Some people in the streets said friends had stayed away out of fear.
"The significance of March 15 hasn't changed, but this year it is a lot more restrained because there is great anxiety among the people," said Margit Fekete, a 63-year-old pensioner.
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