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Serbian gay parade is called off | Serbian gay parade is called off |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Gay Pride march in Serbia has been called off after police told organisers they could not guarantee its safety. | A Gay Pride march in Serbia has been called off after police told organisers they could not guarantee its safety. |
One of the organisers said Serbia's prime minister had urged them to switch Sunday's rally from central Belgrade, but the proposal was "unacceptable". | One of the organisers said Serbia's prime minister had urged them to switch Sunday's rally from central Belgrade, but the proposal was "unacceptable". |
President Boris Tadic vowed on Friday to protect the participants. | President Boris Tadic vowed on Friday to protect the participants. |
Anti-gay groups had threatened violence if the march were allowed to go ahead. "We're expecting you" posters had been stuck around the Serbian capital. | Anti-gay groups had threatened violence if the march were allowed to go ahead. "We're expecting you" posters had been stuck around the Serbian capital. |
"Pride parades are traditionally organised in the main streets of big cities," said one of the organisers, Dragana Vuckovic. | "Pride parades are traditionally organised in the main streets of big cities," said one of the organisers, Dragana Vuckovic. |
It is "unacceptable" to stage the parade in a "field", she told the media. | It is "unacceptable" to stage the parade in a "field", she told the media. |
The Republic of Serbia has capitulated. We have not Gay Pride organising committee Gay march plan tests Serb feelings | |
The decision had been taken after a meeting on Saturday with Prime Minister Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. | The decision had been taken after a meeting on Saturday with Prime Minister Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. |
Nationalist and religious leaders have opposed a Serbian bill banning discrimination against homosexuals. | Nationalist and religious leaders have opposed a Serbian bill banning discrimination against homosexuals. |
The ultra-nationalist Serb Popular Movement 1389 hailed the cancellation of Sunday's march as "a great victory for normal Serbia". | The ultra-nationalist Serb Popular Movement 1389 hailed the cancellation of Sunday's march as "a great victory for normal Serbia". |
"In our city infidels and Satanists will not pass," it added. | "In our city infidels and Satanists will not pass," it added. |
Homosexuality in Serbia is still far from accepted, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Belgrade. | |
The gay scene is underground and members of the community are regularly the target of discrimination. | |
Belgrade's first gay parade in 2001 descended into chaos amid widespread violence by mobs of protesters - with television images of bleeding participants and police firing rubber bullets broadcast around the world. | Belgrade's first gay parade in 2001 descended into chaos amid widespread violence by mobs of protesters - with television images of bleeding participants and police firing rubber bullets broadcast around the world. |
The organising committee of the planned Sunday march will certainly keep up the pressure, says our correspondent. | |
"The state has failed the fundamental test," it says in a statement. "The next exam period is approaching fast. The Republic of Serbia has capitulated. We have not." |