Followers of the Armenian Republican Party pelted the Hungarian consulate in Yerevan with tomatoes and tore down the flag.

The Armenian media began to carry articles a week ago that Hungary could set Safarov free as a precondition for Baku to buy Hungarian state bonds valued at €2-3 billion. The Speaker of the Armenian parliament Friday afternoon cancelled a visit to Hungary scheduled for later this month.

The White House asked Budapest on Saturday to explain why it decided to release Safarov. President Barack Obama was filled with concern over the pardon, White House national security council spokesman Tommy Vietor said, adding that the move ran counter to efforts aimed at defusing regional tensions and fostering reconciliation. US State Department officer Patrick Vetrell expects further details from Hungary about the case.

Hungarian ambassador György Szapáry announced that about half a dozen Armenian demonstrators staged a two-hour strike outside the Hungarian embassy in Washington on Friday.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

This news item is one of many published daily by HATC, a premier subscription news service which distributes English-language info about Hungary via email or fax. For a free trial of HATC follow this link and click on 'Free Trial Subscription'.