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Serbia Gay Pride march returns after four years Serbia Gay Pride march returns after four years
(about 1 hour later)
Serbia's first Gay Pride march for four years is set to begin in the capital Belgrade. Serbia's first Gay Pride march for four years has been held in the capital Belgrade, amid massive security, including special forces and tanks.
The event has been cancelled on safety grounds every year since marchers were attacked in 2010. Waving rainbow flags, hundreds took the short march through empty streets.
A massive police presence in central Belgrade included the deployment of tanks and special forces. Authorities had cancelled the event every year since marchers were attacked in 2010 - nine years after Gay Pride was first held in Belgrade.
Serbia is negotiating to join the European Union, and a BBC correspondent says it is keen to show increasing tolerance in the country. Serbia is keen to show increasing tolerance as it seeks to join the EU, the BBC's Guy De Launey says.
Keeping Brussels happy is undoubtedly the motivation for allowing the Gay Pride march to go ahead, the BBC's Guy De Launey reports from Belgrade. Keeping Brussels happy is undoubtedly the motivation for allowing the Gay Pride march to go ahead, our correspondent in Belgrade says.
Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he would not attend the event due to prior engagements - but would not go even if he were free. Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic had announced he would not attend the event due to prior engagements - but also made it clear he would not have gone even if he had been free.
Our correspondent says that reflects widespread feelings in Serbia.Our correspondent says that reflects widespread feelings in Serbia.
The patriarch of the influential Orthodox Church has condemned the event.The patriarch of the influential Orthodox Church has condemned the event.
Two-thirds of respondents to a survey four years ago said they viewed homosexuality as a disease.Two-thirds of respondents to a survey four years ago said they viewed homosexuality as a disease.
But Sunday's march took place without incident, with marchers blowing whistles as a police helicopter flew over them.
Participants marched through the centre of the city to the National Assembly, where ambassadors from numerous European countries addressed the crowd.
"I feel phenomenal. Our efforts of the past three years have borne fruit," organiser Boban Stojanovic told Reuters news agency.
On Saturday evening, anti-gay rights campaigners demonstrated in the capital in anticipation of the Gay Pride march on Sunday.On Saturday evening, anti-gay rights campaigners demonstrated in the capital in anticipation of the Gay Pride march on Sunday.
But the influence of the far right has declined in recent years, our correspondent says, and several government ministers have spoken in favour of the march.But the influence of the far right has declined in recent years, our correspondent says, and several government ministers have spoken in favour of the march.
The minister for European integration Jadranka Joksimovic has said she would join the march. Earlier in September a German LGBT ( lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender) rights speaker was treated in hospital after being beaten in Belgrade.
Earlier in September a German LGBT rights speaker was treated in hospital after being beaten in Belgrade.
In response to the attack, Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said: "We will not allow this kind of thing to remain unpunished."In response to the attack, Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said: "We will not allow this kind of thing to remain unpunished."
The march in 2010 was the only gay pride parade to go ahead in the Serbian capital since 2001.The march in 2010 was the only gay pride parade to go ahead in the Serbian capital since 2001.