Serbian police have banned a Gay Pride march in capital Belgrade – citing security concerns but also complying with a request from the Christian Orthodox church.

Patriarch Pavle, who led Serbia’s Christian Orthodox Church through its post-Communist revival and called for peace and conciliation during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s but failed to openly condemn Serb nationalism, died today. He was 95.

Dozens of cars were smashed and 14 people were taken to hospital with injuries after protests by Muslim immigrants angered at the alleged defacement of a Koran by a Greek policeman ended in a riot.

After extending a hand to other Christians, Jews and “nonbelievers,” Pope Benedict XVI made a meeting with religious leaders his first public appointment today.