Trading in the shares of an Australian mining company has been suspended after it was blamed for a major environmental disaster in Hungary.

The Hungarian authorities say a cyanide leak from a gold mine in Romania part-owned by the company, Esmeralda Enterprises, has contaminated waters in the Tisza and Szamos rivers, killing tons of fish and leaving parts of Hungary without drinking water.

The company has defended its safety record and said it took steps to contain the leak -- which it blamed on bad weather -- as soon as it became aware of it.

But the Hungarian authorities say they will be seeking compensation for the disaster.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service