Police will allow Budapest Pride to go ahead along planned route

The chief of police in the Hungarian capital Budapest has agreed to let a Pride march take place along its original route.

Yesterday he faced international condemnation when he attempted to ban the event.

Negotiations between organisers and chief Gabor Toth were due to take place this afternoon, but instead he has agreed to the original plan for the July 5th march.

He had earlier argued that a static gathering would be more appropriate.

"We hope the police have understood that it is their job to protect the march from attacks, and not to try to avoid the attacks by banning the march," said Gabor Kuszing of the Patent Association.

"We hope that they have learned from last year’s serious attacks and will appear in adequate numbers to protect us."

Last year's Pride march saw vicious attacks from right-wing groups and the police were accused of failing to protect the marchers adequately.