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Gay rights march in Belgrade triggers violent riots

BELGRADE (Reuters) – A gay rights parade in Belgrade erupted in violence on Sunday as thousands of police deployed to protect marchers clashed with anti-gay protesters, who rioted and attacked the headquarters of the ruling parties.

Pushed back from the parade area by 5,000 police in riot gear, protesters turned to other targets, breaking into the lobby of the state television network, scaling scaffolding to try to enter parliament, smashing windows at the Austrian embassy and burning a car in front of the French embassy.

Gangs of tough-looking youths threw stones, crowbars, wooden planks, bottles and other objects at police, smashed windows of cars and buses and looted several central shops including that of Italian retailer Benetton. Some sang nationalist songs.

This is one poor piece of journalism.

You try to make the protesters look like a bunch of backwards idiots with clever wording. I wish they would not destroy property and injure the police, but they are sick of their own government making life for the sodomites like a cakewalk.

They are right to protest and not one bit refusing progress in doing so. Homosexuality is a sin and not one bit redeeming. If you continue to paint them in a positive light, you will be encouraging decay and lawlessness.

Mr. J.

Let me make sure I have this right.

These people injured police, tried to break into parliament, looted shops and broke embassy windows, and we’re using “clever wording” to make them look bad?

I have some news for you: making these guys look like thugs doesn’t require as much clever writing as you might think: GBU Editor

Top: Anti-gay protesters throw stones towards riot policemen during clashes in Belgrade October 10, 2010. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Left: A riot policeman tries to extinguish a torch during clashes in Belgrade October 10, 2010.  REUTERS/Djordje Kojadinovic

Slideshow of photos from the clashes

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