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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 Sagolj
"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
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