Anti-gay violence mars Hungarian parade

By Sandor Peto and Krisztina Than

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian riot police used water cannon and tear gas on Saturday to stop far-right extremists from throwing petrol bombs and breaking up the annual gay parade in the capital Budapest.

Hundreds of far-right demonstrators threw petrol bombs and stones at the police as the police tried to separate them from the participants of the "Gay Pride" march. They also threw eggs and firecrackers at people in the parade.

Riot police detained 45 people, police spokeswoman Eva Tafferner said.

Ambulance workers and police said at least eight people were wounded in the clashes, including two policemen.

The anti-gay demonstrators attacked a police car carrying Socialist European Parliament member and human rights activist Katalin Levai. They slammed a stone through the window of the police car but she was not hurt.

"This is outrageous and shameful that some 20 years after the change of regime, this is what we have ... such intolerance," Levai told Reuters.

"This (violence) is sad," said 32-year-old book editor Istvan Ruzsacz, who took part in the parade.

"Those people simply don't accept that gays exist and use this as an opportunity to advertise themselves."  Continued...