Budapest - Demand for eggs is set to outstrip supply in Hungary as millions are being bought in the run up to Easter, a local financial paper reported on Tuesday.

The Hungarian Poultry Produce Council estimates that around 100 million eggs per week - or ten for every Hungarian - will be bought in the run up to Easter.

This is roughly double the normal level of consumption, already among the highest in the world at around 300 eggs per Hungarian per year.

Vienna  - Austria's leading oil and gas group OMV AG announced Monday it has ended its involvement with Hungarian counterpart MOL plc by selling its 21.2-per-cent stake to the Russian company Surgutneftegas OJSC.

The shares were sold for 1.4 billion euros (1.86 billion dollars), OMV said in a statement, calling the deal a "logical step" after the company ended its unsuccessful bid to take over MOL last August.

Budapest  - Economy Minister Gordon Bajnai was on course to become Hungary's prime minister on Monday morning when leaders the opposition Free Democrats voted shortly after midnight to back his nomination.

Bajnai was endorsed by the governing Socialist Party on Sunday evening after a lengthy day of debate.

On Sunday evening he held talks until close to midnight with the Free Democrats, whose support the Socialists need.

Budapest - Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany quit as head of the Hungarian Socialist Party on Saturday, after nominating Minister for Economy and Development Gordon Bajnai to lead an interim government.

Speculation has been rife over who will be Hungary's new prime minister since Gyurcsany said at his party's congress on March 21 that he would step aside to make way for a new government with a new leader.

Budapest - Former Hungarian finance minister Lajos Bokros said Saturday that he was not prepared to accept the job of Hungarian prime minister.

"I am insulted by the notion that I would lend my reputation and credibility to a programme in whose success I have no faith," Bokros said

The economics professor was speaking at the opening of the European Parliament election campaign of the Hungarian Democratic Forum, a minor conservative opposition party for which he is standing.

Budapest - Hungary's Socialist Party was divided in two on Friday evening over the nomination of Finance Minister Lajos Bokros for prime minister, the state news agency MTI reported.

Bokros is backed by one faction of the party while the other prefers Electrolux Hungary boss Janos Takacs, nominated by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany in the morning.

The liberal Free Democrats, whose support the minority Socialist government needs, said Bokros was the only candidate acceptable to them.