BUDAPEST (AFP-EJP)---An extreme-right party on the fringes of
Hungarian politics inducted the first members of its new paramilitary wing Saturday amid fears that its move will usher a resurgence of extremism.

The founding members of Magyar Garda, or Hungarian Guard, took their oath next to the presidential palace in Budapest with about 1,000 supporters of the Jobbik party in attendance.

Nearby, hundreds joined a counter-demonstration organised by anti-fascist groups, including Jewish and Roma rights organisations that want the authorities to ban the paramilitary group.

At the induction ceremony, many were seen waving the red-and-white striped Arpad flag, a historic flag reminiscent of the one used by Hungary’s pro-Nazi Arrow Cross Regime during World War II.

Uniforms were also adorned with the emblem.

"The Magyar Garda was formed to execute a true (political) transition and to save the Hungarian people," Jobbik president and Magyar Garda founder Gabor Vona told the crowd.

School children hold a poster showing the Jewish deportation during the IIWW, to protest against the new organization of the far-right Jobbik party, the Magyar Garda or Hungarian Guard under Buda hill 25 August 2007 during an induction ceremony of the far-right Jobbik party for the first members of the Guard. AFP Copyright 2007

Jobbik, known for its anti-Semitic, anti-Roma and anti-gay rhetoric, is a fringe far-right political party which is not represented in parliament, but is present in several municipalities across the country.

The paramilitary group says its aim is to "defend Hungary physically,
morally and spiritually." Their members, among other things, will be trained to use weapons.

Most recently, supporters of Jobbik disrupted a gay rights rally in the
capital in July, throwing eggs and bottles and injuring several participants.

The establishment of the paramilitary group touched off renewed debate in Hungary on just how far extremists group could go under free speech laws, before authorities could take action against them.

"What is more important? Their right to free speech or our right to human dignity?" asked Agnes Daroczi, a Roma-rights activist at the
counter-demonstration.

Some participants at the counter-demonstration held up placards of
black-and-white photos, showing Jews wearing the yellow star and being herded into trains to be sent to death camps. 

'Alarming development' 

Mazsihisz, the Federation of Hungarian Jewish communities, as well as the World Jewish Congress (WJC) and the European Jewish Congress (EJC) Jewish organisations have asked Socialist Prime Minister
Ferenc Gyurcsany to ban the Magyar Garda, whose formation they said was "an extremely alarming development" amid "rising anti-Semitism in Europe".

Gyurcsany has condemned the creation of the Guard, saying it was "the disgrace of Hungary and Hungarian democracy".

He has sent a letter to the country’s chief prosecutor asking him to pay "special attention" to its activities and to "immediately take steps" if it did anything illegal.

Gyurcsany’s Socialist party on Saturday also called on other right-wing parties to break off political contacts with Jobbik. All of the right-wing parties in parliament have alliances with Jobbik in various municipalities.

Jobbik members were heavily involved in violent anti-government protests last year, following the leak of an audio tape in which Gyurcsany was heard admitting that he lied to voters on the economy to win re-election.

Hungary has central Europe’s largest Jewish population, estimated between 60,000 and 100,000.