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Associated Press
Monday 2 July, 2007

undreds of thousands of people from across Europe packed into Madrid on Saturday and joined in a gay pride parade that saluted Spain's socialist government for introducing legislation that has turned this once deeply conservative nation into a bastion of gender equality.

The parade, which filled the capital's vast Alcala and Gran Via boulevards from Puerta de Alcala square in the east to Plaza de Espana square in the west, took place in a festive and peaceful atmosphere.