Monday and we're on air...

There is unrest in Hungary

Rita in the centre of the city is staying in her office’s guest room overnight in Budapest says there are crowds of 50 – 60 people milling around “awaiting a speech by the leader of opposition and there’s a sweet smell of gas in the air. It’s frightening. The public transport has stopped. Many people are now shouting, swearing and saying what the minister said a few weeks ago: ‘We screwed up’. So there are a lot of people against the socialist party.”

Rita is on air live talking about the uprising of ’56 and we’re hearing sirens in the background . . . it sounds worrying.

Mid-term elections in the USA

Bob: “What’s happening in Iraq is a total travesty. If you read history you’d know the British spent 17 years trying to do what we’re trying to do. The speeches they gave then are identical to those our leaders are giving today. The British left in 1934 and nothing has changed. It’s one group fighting another. Iraq is just the way things are in every other sphere.”

Jason Hartley of Just Another Soldier: “I’m still in the NG I’m still a soldier. Iraq will affect how I vote. Issues such as borders, immigration are on people’s minds but not as much as Iraq. Most people pick on one big issue when they decide who to vote against.”

Jeremy in Atlanta is saying Iraq is not on the agenda: “It’s more of a presidential issue. It’s an exaggeration to say America needs a regime change. We need a correction. Congress has not been listening on issues such as the minimum wage – that’s what will be motivating people to vote in November.”

Two texts just in:
Ken in Ohio
The war in Iraq will have no effect on how I'll vote in the coming elections as I protested against it from the start.

David in Florida, United States
I am a Republican, but I think it best if the Republicans lost majority control of Congress In order for them to reflect on what brought them to power in the first place. They have become corrupt during their years in power.

Laura: “It’s a war machine administration. Bush has divided this nation more than any one else I can remember. If one questions it, one is considered unpatriotic. The whole thing has to change. Iraq is a huge part of it.”

Iraz in California: “Of course Iraq will affect the mid-terms because the money they’re spending there and the money that’s trickling over here . . . .where’s the money going. Of course it’s gonna be a local issue for us over here.”

Taylor in Ohio: “Most people are upset with the Republicans but you can’t vote Dem just because of that. Both parties aren’t doing very well. “

Jason, the soldier had the last word of the first half: “We want change so badly we’ll vote for whoever is not a Republican.”

Two e-Mails just in to worldhaveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

James
I don't want liberals in positions of power. Liberals are weak on defence, border security, and are strong on taxes and social programs.

MarkThe Iraq war will not affect how I vote. I will vote based on domestic issues such as abortion and taxes. I will vote Republican this time around.

We’re in the second half now . . . the US mid-terms are still the topic.

AJ: “It’s just the tip of a very high iceberg. Iraq is the shield they’re carrying, they’re trying to keep the public cowed. Are we really in better shape than we were in 2004: No? Was Iraq legitimate? No. Were the elections in 2004 legitimate . . .there are questions about that?”

Paul in Germany: “I think things have changed a little bit and Iraq was a reckless mistake.”

Sam in New Hampshire: “It wasn’t a mistake . . .it was deliberate. Bush was warned by several state organs. The justifications for Iraq were false but they did it anyway. Here we are know 3,4,5 years into this disaster. All to enrich a few of the Republican party contributors.”

We’re now returning to Hungary and a day of protests.

Gavin: It’s pretty quiet and I saw lots of people marching and all of a sudden I saw tear gas being fired. I was some distance away. We then saw the water cannon being deployed.”

Andras is live in Budapest and we are hearing shots or gas being fired in the background: “I can hardly see a thing because there’s too much gas in the air. This is the sound of the tear gas going off. I’ve got to start running.”

This is all getting a bit scary . . .

Ros: Andras are you ok?

Andras: “The police are trying to clear the area. This is one of the main areas. There is no sign of violence around me. There are lots of people with candles in their hands commemorating. There are some protesting against the government. I’m safe.”

Gavin: “I saw two people today. One person was saying they were hit in the leg by something. I did hear things that maybe suggested rubber bullets. Someone was hit in the knee.”

There are sirens still going off left, right and centre in the background . . . sounds of anti-PM protests.

Andras: “I’ve seen a few ambulances around but not many injured people”

Andras: “I think the protestors want the government to resign especially the PM who lied.”

Steven: “I see ambulances, quite a few of them. The police. Every minute there’s a siren and something coming down the street. You can smell the tear gas.”

Some e-Mails just in:

Amy in Budapest
I went out to see if I could watch some of the celebrations, saw a small parade of people and tagged at the back. Minutes later I realised I was with the rioters, as they barged down the metal fences. A few moments later the police fired tear gas. Everyone started to flee, luckily I went left, the rioters went right.

Sarah - Kecskemét,Hungary
It is really embarrassing that people use this moment to show they are disappointed about our government. We voted for them and now we can't accept them.

Ros is doing some real-time triangulation and it turns out that our callers were in two different places . . . it’s possible the unrest is spreading.

There’s a few minutes left for us to discuss Michel Daerden . . . the famous Belgian

Stephen Samin, a journalist for De Staandard a Flemish paper, summarised the difference of opinion between the Flemish and Walloon camps: “French-speaking newspapers said the minister was the new star of the internet. Flemish newspapers said he was a drunk.”

Patrice: “It was embarrassing being a Belgian. I would also say this is more on the light side of things. There are other things more problematic than this. It would have an impact on my vote.”

Stephen: “Normally politicians don’t appear on TV getting drunk. He’s been doing this for years. He always speaks like this and acts like this.”

Back to our main story . . . some e-Mails just in:
Nandorin Hungary
When the protesters were still on the Kossuth square in front of the Parliament where the international delegations had to appear, they destroyed Hungary's reputation in the World.

Nagy Gyuri, Budapest, Hungary
What is going on in Budapest nowadays is a shame. Some hundred idiots are playing and enjoying ‘the theatre’.

A storming discussion with gaseous outbursts coming for once from police canons instead of over-verbose callers . . . I think I prefer the latter. What a night. Sleep tight and if you're in Hungary, stay safe!