Sparks fly between gay right activists and opponents

67 people were arrested following fights between gay rights activists and anti-gay demonstrators in St Petersburg in Russia.

The incidents started when a group of 15 gay rights activists were mocked by opponents who occupied the site of a sanctioned LGBT rally themed "international coming out day". Arrests were made after anti-gay demonstrators dressed as Cossacks and Orthodox priests tore a rainbow flag from a woman's hands. People form both sides are claimed to have been detained.

Russia recently adopted a law banning what it classifies as homosexual "propaganda". The law has sparked several small protests across the country by gay rights campaigners. A number of activists also called for the boycotting of Russia's hosting of the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014.