Huge crowds throng gay parade in Latvia

Some 5,000 people took to the streets of the Latvian capital for a gay pride parade, the culminating event of the EuroPride 2015 week which took place here from June 15-20.

Dressed in colourful outfits and costumes, and holding flags and posters calling for the acceptance of different lifestyles, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders, as well as their friends and supporters marched through the streets here to the beats of cheerful music on Saturday, Xinhua reported.

A crowd had also gathered to watch the parade, with some shouting their disapproval while others showing their support for the march.

The parade was joined by many guests from foreign countries as well, notably a number of ambassadors and politicians from European parliament.

Three arrests were made for what police described as minor disturbances of public order. Among those briefly detained was Andris Orols, the leader of a Latvian NGO, which staged a counter-demonstration against the EuroPride 2015 parade.