Hungarian town briefly cordoned off after clash
BUDAPEST, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Police briefly cordoned off a town in northeast Hungary on Sunday night after tensions between the local Roma minority and far-right supporters turned violent, police said on Monday.
Anti-Roma tensions have heightened in recent years in Hungary where 6-7 percent of the 10 million population are Gypsies.
Police made one arrest after a group of residents in the town of Sajobabony, 200 kms (120 miles) northeast of Budapest, attacked a car with sticks, smashing its windows but causing no injuries.
Local news website boon.hu reported that the clash occurred between local Roma and supporters of the far-right Jobbik party who had angered some residents by holding a forum in the town on Saturday.
Jobbik has no representation in the Hungarian parliament but won three seats in European elections this year, and has the support of 12 percent of decided voters according to the latest opinion polls. It has campaigned on a promise to clamp down on what it calls "Roma crime".
Police said some 30-40 people of the opposing sides faced down outside Sajobabony late on Sunday, drawing a heavy police presence and leading to the temporary closure of the road into the town. Police in the area are still on heightened alert.
(Reporting by Gergely Szakacs; editing by David Stamp)
