Serbs riot over gay pride march in Belgrade

Serbian riot police fought running battles with hundreds of far-right supporters who tried to disrupt a gay pride march in central Belgrade today.

Several dozen people were hurt, officials said.

The rioters also hurled Molotov cocktails at the headquarters of the ruling pro-Western Democratic Party, setting the garage of the building on fire.

Thousands of police officers sealed off the streets in the capital where the march took place, repeatedly clashing at several locations with rioters who were trying to burst through security cordons.

The protesters, chanting "death to homosexuals!" hurled bricks, stones, glass bottles and fireworks at riot police.

Hospital officials said a group of young men overnight attacked the headquarters of a women's human rights organisation, injuring one activist. The Women in Black organisation said the men were looking for gays.