Roving bands of young men attacked activists staging on Saturday what was believed to be the first gay rights march in Yugoslavia's capital, Belgrade. The attackers circled the activists one by one, kicking them until police intervened. Dozens of people were reportedly injured, including half a dozen police officers deployed to Belgrade's main square. Hospital officials said none of the injuries were life-threatening.
The melee began even before the start of the gay gathering, as dozens of soccer fans and members of a nationalist group appeared at the Republic Square to prevent the march from taking place. One of the attackers told B-92 radio that "we are here to prevent immorality in Serbia," while others shouted "Serbia is not a gay country." Later the antigay forces smashed the front window of the offices of a moderate political party supporting gay rights.