US protests over gay marriage ban

California's Supreme Court has upheld a ban on same-sex marriage - the latest twist in a long-running saga.

The judges rejected a challenge from gay-rights activists to overturn the result of a 2008 referendum which restricted marriage to heterosexuals.

Prior to the vote, same-sex marriages were legal for six months, during which 18,000 couples were married. Their unions remain legally valid.

Gay-rights activists stood outside the San Francisco court shouting "shame on you" after the decision was made public.