The clashes and massive police deployment in Belgrade highlighted the intolerance that still pervades Serbian society a decade after the country ousted strongman Slobodan Milosevic, ending Serbia’s pariah status during the war years of the 1990s.
Ambulances raced down the streets of Belgrade and one official told Reuters that 70 police officers had required medical attention, with one seriously wounded.
Bloodied police could be seen leaving the scene and witnesses heard gunshots fired toward security forces in one instance as the clashes continued.
Groups of nationalists, skinheads and hooligans threw stones at police sporting riot gear. Others attempted to block traffic by overturning trashcans on major streets and sang nationalist songs. Witnesses said the police were making many arrests.
Many see Sunday’s march as a test of Serbia’s readiness to become a more modern, open society after the hatred and intolerance that fueled the 1990s Balkan wars.
The violence comes two days ahead of a planned visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who wants to highlight Washington’s support for Belgrade’s aspirations to join the European Union.
Ultranationalist groups have vowed to photograph those taking part in the rally and post them on a website, in a threat of retribution against the marchers.
“This city is besieged by oppressive police and weirdos. We will not fight overwhelming force. Our moment will come to get even with them,” said Nebojsa, a 30-year old skinhead and baker by profession, who met other gay haters at 6 a.m.
Milija, 28, a construction engineer who described himself as a religious nationalist, called the government “ridiculous” for allowing the march.
“This government wants to protect a deviant, wicked and non-Christian minority against the good, law-abiding majority. And they speak about democracy,” he said.
Police estimated the number of participants in the gay rights parade at 1,500. They marched in central Belgrade, where traffic was barred and non-area residents kept out. Several churches canceled Sunday services.
Traditionally conservative Balkan societies have been slow to adjust to open homosexuality, and last year a Serbian gay parade was canceled because of threats.
Surveys show that about 60 percent of Serbians disapprove of homosexuality, and one third of those say violence should be used to interrupt gay public events. In the last Belgrade march in 2001, dozens of gay activists and policemen were injured in clashes with nationalists, neo-Nazis and hooligans.
