Abba back Polish gays

Swedish pop veterans Abba have signed memorabilia together for the first time in a decade. Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad are auctioning signed posters, photos and music in support of gay rights in Poland.

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The signed Abba gear is being sold in an auction on eBay by Stockholm Pride, which organises the Swedish capital's gay pride parade every summer.

The proceeds of the auction will go to Warsaw Pride, which has come under attack from Poland's new president, Lech Kaczynski. He banned last summer's gay pride celebrations in Warsaw, said that homosexuals were "not a natural part of Poland's culture," and challenged gay people to repress their sexuality.

"As arranger of a Pride festival in a neighbouring country that is so privileged by comparison it is impossible to be aware of what is happening in Poland without doing something," said Stockholm Pride chairwoman Ulrika Westerlund.

Abba are the biggest celebrities to have made donations to the auction. Other Swedish stars joining in include pop singers Arja Saijonmaa and Nanne Grönwall, who are offering to spend an evening with the highest bidder.

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