Gay rights activists in clash in Moscow

MOSCOW, May 27 (UPI) -- Gay rights activists trying to raise support for gay pride parades were beaten and pelted with eggs and garbage, then arrested in Moscow Sunday.

The activists were trying to deliver a petition to the city's mayor, demanding the right to hold parades, when protesters began beating them and chanting, "Moscow is not Sodom," the BBC reported.

Moscow police arrested British gay rights advocate Peter Tatchell, GayRussia leader Nikolai Alexeyev and Marco Capatto, an Italian member of the European Parliament who said he was kicked by an anti-gay protester and then arrested when he demanded police protection, the BBC reported.

Itar-Tass said the activists had been warned against mounting any kind of demonstration Sunday, which was the 14th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Russia.

Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov has called homosexuality "satanic" and said he never will allow gay rights' parades in his city, the BBC said.