Gay pride march banned in Belgrade

Police have banned a gay pride parade in Belgrade planned for the weekend, citing security concerns.

Boban Stojanovic, a gay rights activist and one of the parade's organisers, said the ban "has shown that the state has once again backed down before hooligans and violence".

Patriarch Irinej, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, had urged the government to ban the event, describing it as a "parade of shame" that casts a "moral shadow" on the nation.

In 2010 more than 100 people were injured when right-wing groups attacked a gay pride march in Belgrade. Last year's march was banned.