Bosnia Lays Claim to World Kissing Record

Close to 7,000 couples smooched late on Saturday in the Bosnian town of Tuzla.

Close to 7,000 couples smooched late on Saturday in the Bosnian town of Tuzla in an bid to break the world simultaneous kissing record.

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).

"We broke the record, it's great," said Kristina Gligorovic, the event's public relations officer. She said the record should be recognised after they submit video footage and documentation showing 6,980 couples locked in simultaneous kiss.

The organisers of the so-called Love Revolution hope to take over the crown from Hungary where 6,400 couples set the current Guinness World Record for the total numbers kissing simultaneously in June this year.

Tuzla's Islamic community protested against the event, saying that public exposure of love was contrary to Islamic tradition. Muslims make up roughly a half of the town's population.

"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.