Thousands March For Gay, Minority Rights In Poland, Croatia, Italy

Several thousand people have marched in gay pride events in Poland, Croatia, and Italy to urge support for minority rights.

The parades in Warsaw and Zagreb came amid mounting right-wing sentiments that pose new challenges to gay rights activists.

In Zagreb, former Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic and several well-known public figures joined a pride event called Croatia Is Not Over Yet.

Rights activists have warned that Croatia has been moving to the right under a conservative government that came to power in January.

In Poland, there also are concerns for minority rights under a right-wing government that came to power in November.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters