The day marks the foundation of Hungary's first ghetto in 1944

The speaker of parliament, Janos Ader, condemned racial discrimination in all its forms, and said the deportations did not happen at the will of the majority.

Hungary's chief rabbi, Jozsef Schweitzer, reminded deputies that the anti-Jewish laws of the 1930s and 40s were passed in the same chamber where they now sat, and that the Hungarian government handed over its own citizens to their executioners.

A survivor of the Holocaust also addressed parliament.

Deportations of Jews only began from Hungary when German forces occupied the country in March 1944 and established a puppet state led by Hungary's small fascist party, the Arrow Cross.

Bitter controversy

The degree of Hungarian involvement in the deportations has been a source of bitter controversy ever since.

Jewish leaders argue that as Nazi Germany was already losing the war, a Hungarian refusal to co-operate would have saved thousands of lives.

The government plans to hold annual commemorations every 16 April, the anniversary of the foundation of the first ghetto in Hungary in 1944.

This year's ceremony was held a day later because of the Easter holiday.