Hungary farmers keep up protests

Farmers are planning slow protests around the country

Hungarian farmers are continuing protests against the government's delay in releasing European Union subsidies.

Thousands joined the rallies last week, while hundreds of agricultural vehicles were driven into the capital Budapest.

Farmers around the country are reported to be planning solidarity action with slow processions on key routes.

The Hungarian government has called the protest a "political hoax campaign". Hungary was among 10 countries to join the EU in May last year.

Farmers' organisations have held talks with the government to demand faster land-based subsidy payments and help to store grain.

The government is said to have promised to speed up the payments.

But the farmers are reported to have police permission to protest until the middle of March.