Four gay rights protesters arrested before Games

Russian police arrested four gay rights protesters who unfurled a banner in St Petersburg on Friday declaring "Discrimination is incompatible with the Olympic Movement", gay rights group All Out said.

The police in Russia's second city were not immediately available to comment on the incident, which took place shortly before the opening ceremony at the Sochi Winter Olympics.

President Vladimir Putin has been criticised abroad over a law he signed last year banning the spread of "gay propaganda" among minors but has said there will be no discrimination at the Games.

Gay rights groups say the new law discriminates against gays and that it has fuelled attacks on homosexuals in Russia, but Putin says it is needed to protect young people.

Photograph: Muhammad Hamed/Reuters