Serbia gay pride march attacked with bombs, stones

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Serbia Gay Pride March Attacked with Bombs, Stones

By the CNN Wire Staff
October 10, 2010

(CNN) -- Petrol bombs and stones were thrown at police protecting a gay pride march Sunday in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, an interior ministry representative told CNN.

About 40 police officers were injured, and about 60 people were arrested, the ministry's Suzana Vasiljevic told CNN. None of the marchers were injured.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic had urged people to allow the march to go ahead without incident, Serbia's Tanjug news agency reported Saturday.

"It is very important that the event, which might be disagreeable to most of Serbia's citizens, goes by without incidents," Dacic said in Belgrade.

A gay pride march in 2001 -- thought to be the country's first -- was attacked, resulting in some injuries.

Last year's march was canceled due to security concerns after a wave of anti-gay graffiti appeared before the event, news reports at the time said.

About 1,000 people participated in this year's march, guarded by close to 5,000 police officers, Vasiljevic said.

A number of streets were closed for the event, and international diplomats were scheduled to observe it, according to the interior ministry.

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