Thousands of Hungarians gathered outside the headquarters of the country's state television on Saturday, protesting against what they described as the government's "propaganda machine" and calling for an independent public service media.

Both Hungarian and international observers have long warned that press freedom in the Central European country is under threat

The protest was organised by Hungary's most prominent opposition figure, Péter Magyar who heads the TISZA party, which has emerged in recent months as the most serious political challenge for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán since he took power nearly 15 years ago.