Human rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) on Wednesday rebuked EU newcomer Lithuania for failing to respect the rights of homosexuals and over a racist incident.

'Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) peoples? human rights were not respected,' Amnesty International said in its 2008 report on the state of human rights worldwide.

'Several LGBT events were cancelled in a discriminatory manner and parliament discussed banning information which would put homosexuality in a positive light to minors,' the report said.

It pointed to the decision of Vilnius Mayor Juozas Imbrasas to ban an EU-sponsored anti-discrimination truck from coming to Vilnius and to refuse permission for a tolerance campaign rally by homosexuals last May.

AI also noted that sexual minorities were refused the right to put social advertising on public transport buses based on Imbrasas's decision to give 'priority to the traditional family' and his disapproval for the public display of homosexual ideas in the city.

Racism was also addressed by the organisation. Amnesty International took note of a racist incident during a European qualifier football game between Lithuania and France in June 2007.

Fans drew the African continent in outline with the French flag superimposed. Beneath it was written 'Welcome to Europe'. The French team includes a number of black players.

The European football federation UEFA imposed a fine of 15,000 Swiss francs on the Lithuanian football federation for the racist poster.

On Tuesday Lithuania's Jewish community expressed concern over recent incidents of racial hate and anti-Semitism in Lithuania. The incidents include a march by 200 skinheads through Vilnius in March shouting 'Lithuania is for Lithuanians', as well as anti-Semitic and anti-Russian slogans.

The far-right marchers also carried banners with fascist symbols.

In April, an African pop-singer was attacked in downtown Vilnius, according to the Baltic News Service (BNS).

Inciting racial hatred can carry a two-year prison sentence under Lithuanian law.