Mayors Gather Amid Luzhkov 'Anti-Gay' Controversy

Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov (file photo) (ITAR-TASS) February 27, 2007 -- The mayors of four major European capitals -- London, Paris, Berlin, and Moscow -- are meeting in London today.

The two-day "summit" comes amid controversy over Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov's vow to stop any attempt to hold gay-pride parades in the Russian capital.

Gay-rights groups are appealing to London Mayor Ken Livingstone and the mayors of Paris and Berlin -- who are both openly homosexual -- to protest the Moscow ban.

Russian activists on February 26 filed a libel suit against Luzhkov for calling such parades "satanic."

Meanwhile, A Russian Orthodox Church official says Western politicians will fail to convince Luzhkov to allow gay-pride parades in the Russian capital.

Metropolitan Kiril, head of external relations for the Moscow Patriarchate, said Luzhkov has "clear and strong" views on the issue.

(paris.fr, ITAR-TASS, Interfax)