Serbia bans gay pride march for third year, citing security concerns

BELGRADE, Serbia – Serbia's prime minister says a gay pride march scheduled in Belgrade on Saturday has been banned because of threats by right-wing groups against the participants.

Ivica Dacic, who is also the police chief, said Friday that top Serbian security and state officials decided to ban the event because they fear a repeat of the violence in 2010, when extremists attacked a gay pride march in the Serbian capital. That triggered daylong clashes with the police which left more than 100 people injured.

Two other scheduled gay pride marches in 2011 and 2012 had also been banned by authorities.

Allowing the march this year was regarded as a test of Serbia's pledge to respect human rights as it seeks European Union membership.