Czech extremists attack gay rights parade

Extremists have attempted to disrupt a gay parade in the Czech Republic, causing a delay of the event in the country's second largest city.

A leading gay activist Jiri Hromada says some 500 people have marched through downtown Brno, some 200km southeast of Prague. Human Rights Minister Dzamila Stehlikova was among them.

At the start on Saturday afternoon, the marchers were attacked by a group of right-wing extremists, who were shouting abusive slogans and throwing eggs, Hromada said.

The march was delayed by about an hour and took an alternative, shorter route than planned under the protection of police.

Czech news television CT24 said seven extremists were detained.