Serbian authorities have canceled Saturday's gay pride parade in Belgrade for security reasons.

The Interior Ministry Wednesday said the risk of violence is too high. It said it is calling off Saturday's march and all other public gatherings.

Serbia's influential Orthodox Church had asked the government to ban the parade as an insult to Christians. This is the second straight year Serbian authorities have canceled a march by homosexuals and lesbians.

The human rights group Amnesty International says the Serbian government is breaching its own constitution and laws guaranteeing freedom of expression and assembly.

Amnesty calls the ban a win for prejudice and a sorry defeat for human rights and common decency.