HUNGARY: President George Bush hailed Hungary's 1956 revolt against Soviet rule as a "burst of freedom" yesterday, as he sought to deflect widespread criticism of the US-led war in Iraq and the notorious Guantánamo Bay prison camp.
However, as his armoured convoy sped through Budapest between meetings with Hungarian president Laszlo Solyom and prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, demonstrators rallied to highlight alleged stains on President Bush's human rights record.
He also faced thinly veiled criticism from his host, Mr Solyom, on arrival from a day in Vienna that was dogged by protests over Iraq and Guantánamo.
"It is my firm belief that our common responsibility and duty now is to fight terrorism," Mr Solyom said upon welcoming Mr Bush to the elegant Sandor Palace.
"This fight against terrorism can be successful only if every step and measure taken is in line with international law."
This remark chimed with the feelings of demonstrators who gathered in central Budapest to protest against Guantánamo Bay, accusations of CIA "renditions" in European countries, the war in Iraq and specifically the Abu Ghraib and Haditha scandals.
Mr Bush offered no direct response to Mr Solyom's comments. Instead, he focused on Hungary's October 1956 revolution, when thousands of Hungarians rose up against the Stalinist government and its Soviet supporters before resistance was crushed by Soviet tanks. About 2,500 people were killed.
"I'm honoured to be able to talk, to speak to your people, when I talk about the burst of freedom of 1956 . . . and this spirit of freedom still exists today," Mr Bush said.
"I am here to celebrate the 1956 revolution. The idea of a revolution is celebrating the notion that all men and women should be free. I also bring greetings from a nation that admires your courage and desire to continue to do the hard work necessary for democracy to take hold."
Later, Mr Bush met Mr Gyurcsany and praised Hungary's role in Nato, its presence in Afghanistan and its deployment of troops in Iraq, which ended in 2004.
He also spoke of progress in talks over the lifting of visa requirements for Hungarians visiting the US.
For his part, Mr Gyurcsany cautioned Europe against lecturing the US on human rights.
"As European countries, we should end the perception that . . . Europe represents morality and the United States efficiency," he said. "We believe morality and power should go hand in hand, and we are democrats on both sides of the Atlantic."
Later yesterday, Mr Bush was due to give an open-air speech describing Hungary as a role model for countries struggling to adapt to democracy and a market economy, and recalling Hungary's difficulties in the transition from communism as a way of urging patience with the bloody upheaval in Iraq.
Mr Bush said his speech in the Buda Castle courtyard would focus on "the unbelievable thirst for freedom" shown by Hungarians facing the might of Soviet power.
White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters that Mr Bush's speech would be "kind of a tone poem about the 1956 revolution".
"It's basically reiterating themes of the freedom agenda, how it fits in with Hungary," Mr Snow said. "There may be a line or two about how democracy's tough," he added. "Once you establish democracy, that sort of sets an example and others will follow. So there is some resonance with the Middle East."
Mr Bush was due to fly back to Washington last night.