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  Most simultaneous kisses-world record set by Tuzla town

[Sep 2]TUZLA, Bosnia-- Nearly 7,000 couples smooched for ten seconds in the Bosian town of Tuzla, setting a new world record for simultaneous kissing.
 Photo:
A just married couple takes a part in an attempt to break the world simultaneous kissing record in the Bosnian town of Tuzla late September 1, 2007. REUTERS/Damir Sagol
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   "Tuzla is the city of love. We are the champions," Kristina Gligorovic, an organiser, told the crowd of about 20,000 people who gathered for the occasion.

   With fireworks, a giant TV screen, confetti and heart-shaped red balloons as the backdrop, the crowd kissed for at least ten seconds at 1100 p.m. local time (0900 p.m. GMT).

  They've beaten Hungary's record, where more than 6,000 couples kissed in June this year.

  A total of 6980 couples kissed for 10 seconds at the main square of the northeastern town of Tuzla, some 120 kilometres north of the capital, Sarajevo, said local radio station Kameleon, which organised the event.

  Tuzla mayor Jasmin Imamovic took part in the event with his wife.
"People are longing for love. The time has come that besides the Philippines and Hungary someone from southeastern Europe breaks the kissing record," he said before the event.

  The Philippines and Hungary are know for their rivalry for the kissing crown. The Asian country set the Guinness world record in February 2004 with 5,327 couples, but were overtaken by Hungary with 5,875 couples in 2005. The Philippines came back in February this year, with 6,124 couples in Manila to regain the record -- but Hungary responded again in June, when it produced 6,613 smooching couples. In August Hungary claimed the new record with 7,451 kissing couples, but according to Bosnian organisers, it was not officially certified as the world record.

   Apart from Bosnia, couples from neighbouring Croatia and Serbia as well as Albania, Macedonia and Slovenia also took part in the event.

   But not everyone in Bosnia is happy with the record. Tuzla's Islamic community protested, saying that public displays of love are contrary to Islamic tradition.Muslim clerics in Tuzla had called for a boycott, Muslims account for 44 percent of Bosnia's 3.8 million population, the last 1991 census showed.

    "The people who took part in this event spread sexual immorality in our society. The organisation of such an event ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan is an expression of disrespect to Islamic feelings," it said in a statement.

   But Tuzla Mayor Jasmin Imamovic said the event was aimed at promoting the town and its multi-ethnic community.

   "We cherish the philosophy of love and not hatred. Let the love revolution start from here," he said.

    A local radio station, Kameleon (Chameleon), organised Saturday's event called 'Don't Miss This Kiss' to mark its 15th anniversary.
   Mass kissing in Tuzla was part of a daylong celebration filled with concerts by popular musicians from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia.

  
    Reuters video: most people kissing simultaneously