Gay pride march cancelled due to fears of extremist groups

Serbia’s gay pride march was cancelled by organisers after authorities said they could not guarantee protection for the event from extremist groups.

The gathering was to have been Serbia’s first gay pride march since 2001. The previous event received almost no police protection and was broken up by right-wing groups.

The planned march was seen as a major test for the Serbian government, which has launched pro-Western reforms and pledged to protect human rights.

However, organisers said today authorities informed them holding the march in the centre of Belgrade would be too risky.

Spokesman Dusan Kosanovic said police offered a different venue but organisers decided to cancel the march instead.

Several extremist groups had said they would attack the gathering.