Outrage in Croatia after effigy burned of same-sex couple

 Croatia's president joined activists Monday in expressing outrage at the burning during a carnival of an effigy showing a same-sex couple with their child.

The incident occured Sunday in the southern town of Imotski. A large effigy showing two men embracing each other was torched in front of cheering festival goers to the sound of the funeral music.

President Zoran Milanovic condemned the incident as an “inhumane, totally unacceptable act.” He demanded that the organizers apologize, while an LGBT group announced legal action.

“The event was observed by many children who could witness the spreading of hatred and inciting to violence,” Milanovic said in a statement.

The incident follows a recent ruling by Croatia's top court against discrimination of same-sex couples when it comes to fostering children.

The Constitutional Court ruling in January was hailed as a major step forward in boosting gay rights in Croatia. But it also angered many in the predominantly conservative Catholic nation.

Croatia, which is currently presiding the European Union, has allowed same-sex partnerships since 2014, but without the right to adopt children.Milanovic, a liberal, was Croatia's prime minister at the time. He beat a conservative former president in a runoff vote last month to become Croatia's new head of state.