ISTANBUL, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Sunday fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse gay activists in Istanbul.

hundreds of people gathered in the busy Istiklal Avenue near the iconic Taksim Square to stage the annual LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) pride march, despite a ban announced by the Turkish authorities a week before.

At least 12 people including two foreigners were detained, the Hurriyet daily reported, while the police chased others in the small lanes and streets of Istiklal Avenue.

Volker Beck, a politician from the German Green Party, and Terry Reintke, a member of the European Parliament, were later freed, the daily said.

The riot police also used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a transgender pride march on June 19.

The Islamist and ultranationalist groups had threatened the LGBTI groups for holding rallies during the Ramadan, the holly month for Muslims. Enditem