Sofia - Following a warning by human rights group Amnesty International that Bulgaria's first Gay Pride parade could be attacked Saturday, strict security measures have been put in place ahead of the event in the capital Sofia.

Nationalist groups had threatened not to allow the march, planned for Saturday afternoon, to go ahead.

The Bulgarian National Union has been allowed to gather signatures for a petition against "homosexuality and child abuse" at the same time as the parade.

The parade, organized by the Bulgarian Gay and Lesbian group Gemini, has also been criticized by the country's Christian Orthodox Church and by Muslim representatives.

The venue was relocated twice within 24 hours on grounds of safety and morality and is now to take place on the Bridge of Love near the Cultural Palace in the centre of the capital.

The mayor relocated the parade from a park on the outskirts of the city because "many children play there."

The parade was also to have taken place on Sofia's main street. (dpa)