TAIPEI, Oct 13, 2007 (AFP) - Thousands from Taiwan's gay and lesbian community marched through the streets of Taipei Saturday demanding more rights for homosexuals, organisers said.

The parade took a carnival-like mood with marchers waving rainbow flags, colourful balloons and signs. Some were dressed in flamboyant period costumes while others only wore swim trunks despite the cool weather.

'We have to make our voices and demands heard so that the government will do more to promote gay rights,' said Way Chao, a 22-year-old serviceman from southern Kaohsiung.

RIYADH, Oct 4, 2007 (AFP) - Two men in Saudi Arabia have been sentenced to 7,000 lashes each after being convicted of sodomy and have received their first round of punishment in public, a newspaper said Thursday.

The men, who were not identified, were meted out an unspecified number of lashes in public in the the southwestern city of Al-Bahah on Tuesday evening, the Al-Okaz daily reported.

They were then returned to prison where they are to be held until the full punishment is completed, the newspaper added, without saying how many sessions this would involve.

STRASBOURG, Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - The spritual leader of the Russian Orthodox Church denounced homosexuality as an 'illness which changes a man's personality' on Tuesday, as he defended Moscow's decision to ban a Gay Pride march.

Patriarch Alexis II made the comments as he was questioned by an MP during a meeting of the parliamentary assembly of the the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

'There is today a fundamental breach between morality and the appearance of a new set of so-called Human Rights, which justify immoral acts,' he said.

OSLO, Oct 2, 2007 (AFP) - Bishops of Norway's Lutheran church voted Tuesday by a close majority to allow gay pastors, a church official told a press conference.

The Bishops Conference, a seven-man and four-woman panel of 11 Norwegian bishops, voted six to five for the measure, said their official representative, Olav Skjevesland. The panel is a consultative body.

Theological doctrine currently followed in the Norwegian church officially excludes people living in the a homosexual union from officiating at services.

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 29, 2007 (AFP) - Argentina's Los Dogos captured the gay football world cup Saturday, defeating British title-holders Stonewall 1-0 in Buenos Aires in the first final held in Latin America.

The two teams were among 28 squads from Europe, the Americas and Australia that participated in the 10th gay football world championship aimed at highlighting the fight against homophobia and discrimination.

With their victory, Los Dogos, named after an Argentine dog breed, automatically qualified for the 2008 tournament hosted by London.

WASHINGTON, Sept 26, 2007 (AFP) - Protesters shouting 'Thou Shalt Not Kill!' disrupted a congressional hearing Wednesday after the top US military officer defended his view that homosexuality is immoral.

The confrontation began when Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat, chided General Peter Pace for his 'very hurtful remarks' in May that it was wrong to 'condone immoral acts' by allowing gays to serve openly in the military.

ROME, Aug 25, 2007 (AFP) - Italy is prepared to grant asylum to Pegah Emambakhsh, an Iranian lesbian facing deportation from Britain who fears being stoned to death once she returns to Iran, the justice minister said Saturday.

Justice Minister Clemente Mastella said the Italian government is 'fully available' to guarantee refugee status to Pegah if London deports her as the British authorities have warned, the ANSA news agency reported.

Later Saturday in London, Pegah's supporters said her deportation has been deferred pending a legal challenge.

LONDON, Aug 25, 2007 (AFP) - A gay woman who is facing deportation from Britain to her native Iran has had her removal deferred pending a legal challenge, her supporters told AFP Saturday.

Pegah Emambakhsh, 40, was arrested in Sheffield, northern England, earlier this month after being refused asylum following her arrival here in 2005. She is being held in a detention centre and had been due to be deported on Monday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23, 2007 (AFP) - Malaysia's first and only openly gay Christian pastor vowed Thursday to go ahead with plans to open a church embracing homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals, despite government protests.

Reverend Ouyang Wen Feng, an ethnic Chinese Malaysian ordained in the United States, announced last week that he would set up the church by 2010, prompting Malaysia's tourism minister to say the government would block the plan.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13, 2007 (AFP) - Muslim-majority Malaysia will block a plan by the country's first and only openly gay pastor to establish a church embracing homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals, a minister said Monday.

Reverend Ouyang Wen Feng, an ethnic Chinese Malaysian ordained in the US, caused controversy after saying he wanted to set up the church by 2010.

The government would block the plan, Tourism Minister Adnan Tengku Mansor told AFP, adding the country had always sought to portray itself as a 'family-oriented' holiday destination.