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.

Two top clerics in the Russian Orthodox Church said today that it has forgiven the members of feminist punk band Pussy Riot who were convicted of hooliganism and sent to prison for briefly taking over a cathedral in a raucous prayer for deliverance from Vladimir Putin.

Members of the Pussy Riot girl band yesterday likened themselves to dissidents from the Soviet era yesterdat, saying their trial for performing an anti-Kremlin stunt in a church was unjust, but that nobody could take away their inner freedom.

Three women who protested against Vladimir Putin in a “punk prayer” on the altar of Russia’s main cathedral have gone on trial in a case seen as a test of the long-time leader’s treatment of dissent during a new presidential term.

A Russian court promised to show unprecedented transparency in the trial of punk band Pussy Riot by broadcasting it online, but the decision was seen as “suspicious” by the defence.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has urged the government to listen to protesters demanding free elections.

The largest number of pilgrims in a decade have gathered in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas.

President Mary McAleese will make a four-day visit to Russia next week in a bid to build business links between the countries, it was disclosed today.

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.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II, who presided over a vast post-Soviet revival of faith but was accused of making the church a force for nationalism, has died aged 79.

CHANTING Islamist slogans and brandishing banners against Western intervention in the Middle East, thousands of people have rallied in Turkey to denounce the visit of Pope Benedict XVI.

YOUR editorial (Irish Examiner, April 20) refers to “the controversy raging following the concelebration of Easter Mass by Catholic priests and a Church of Ireland clergyman in Drogheda”.

YOUR editorial (Irish Examiner, April 20) refers to “the controversy raging following the concelebration of Easter Mass by Catholic priests and a Church of Ireland clergyman in Drogheda”.

HENRY CANDY is a shrewd judge of a horse’s ability so the fact Summer’s Eve holds entries in both the English and Irish Oaks strongly suggests she will run a big race in the betdaqxpress.co.uk Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Folkestone today.

Hamas’ political leader today reaffirmed the organisation’s hard stance at the start of a three-day visit to Russia aimed at denting the Palestinian militant group’s international isolation.

Serbian President Boris Tadic today met with Pope Benedict XVI and said he hoped the pontiff could visit the country “very soon,” but said certain pre-conditions had to be negotiated first with the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Thousands of Bosnian Serbs today mourned their dead from the 1990s Srebrenica clashes, a day after their Bosnian Muslim wartime enemies marked the 10th anniversary of Europe’s worst massacre of civilians since the Second World War.

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

Pope Benedict XVI thanked journalists today for their coverage during the “historical” events of the papal transition.

SOME Vatican insiders say that when cardinals come to elect a successor to Pope John Paul II they may prefer to return to a safe Italian candidate, like the vast majority of past pontiffs.

A BOMBING in a Christian suburb of east Beirut overshadowed Easter celebrations yesterday and raised fresh fears of a slide back into Lebanon’s violent past.

Tony McCoy could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking his right thumb at Folkestone today.

Tens of thousands gathered at the largest Orthodox Church in the Balkans today to mourn Serbia’s slain pro-Western prime minister, as a massive manhunt for his assassins continued.

Small groups of Orthodox believers prayed today for protection against what they consider an insidious Catholic influence as Pope John Paul II headed to predominantly Orthodox Ukraine, and Orthodox leaders again ruled out a meeting with the pontiff.