Warsaw  - Around 2,000 people took part in an "equality parade" in Warsaw on Saturday to call for tolerance and more rights for homosexuals in Poland.

Most of the young, colourfully dressed participants made their way through the city in cars and on foot past the government headquarters near Lazienki Park.

Gays and lesbians danced in front of the buildings that were cordoned off with steel fencing and guarded by police.

The march proceeded without major incident although at the start, about 100 members of the radical nationalist All Polish Youth and National Radical Camp (ONR) parties tried to disrupt the event.

Police intervened to prevent a confrontation. The nationalists shouted "Shame for Poland" and "Man and woman are families" at participants. (dpa)