| Serbia police clash with far-right rioters at gay pride march Dozens hurt, including 47 officers, after protesters attempt to disrupt march in BelgradeSerbian riot police fought running battles with hundreds of far-right supporters who tried to disrupt a gay pride march in central Belgrade today.Thousands of police officers sealed off streets in the capital where the march took place, repeatedly clashing with rioters who were trying to burst through security cordons.The rioters fired shots and hurled petrol bombs at the headquarters of the ruling pro-western Democratic party, setting the garage of the building on fire. The state TV building and other political parties' headquarters were also attacked, with many of the windows shattered by stones.Several parked cars were set on fire or damaged, shop windows were broken, rubbish bins overturned and street signs destroyed.The protesters, chanting "Death to homosexuals!" hurled petrol bombs, bricks, stones, bottles and firecrackers at riot police. Police responded with teargas and armoured vehicles to disperse the riots in the heart of the capital even after the brief pride march ended.The protesters hijacked a bus, ordered passengers and the driver out, and pushed it down a steep street before it hit an electric pole on a main Belgrade square. Several shops were looted.Belgrade emergency hospital said 57 people were injured, including 47 policemen, one seriously. Police said several rioters were arrested.Rightwing groups say the gay events are contrary to Serbian family and religious values."These riots obviously have nothing to do with the gay parade or any moral values," said Jelena Trivan, a Democratic party spokeswoman. "These are hooligan gangs which must be punished severely."Dragan Sutanovac, the defence minister and vice-president of the Democratic party, said part of the party's archive, warehouse and phone lines were destroyed."It is high time that we deal in a very democratic way, through the courts, with those who call themselves members of the patriotic organisations," Sutanovac said. "Is this Belgrade or the wild west?"Slobodan Homen, a senior justice ministry official, said the state response would be fierce. He said the rioters had been identified using surveillance cameras in the city centre and could face up to eight years in prison.Today's march was viewed as a big test for Serbia's government, which has pledged to protect human rights as it seeks EU membership.Rightwing groups broke up a pride march in 2001 and forced the cancellation of last year's event.Vincent Degert, the head of the EU mission in Serbia, addressed about 1,000 gay activists and their supporters who gathered at a park in downtown Belgrade, which was surrounded by riot police."We are here to celebrate this very important day … to celebrate the values of tolerance, freedom of expression and assembly," Degert told the crowd.SerbiaGay rightsProtestguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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