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Obama in Germany on European tour Obama set for key Berlin speech
(about 1 hour later)
White House hopeful Barack Obama has landed in Berlin to begin the European leg of his international tour, ahead of November's US presidential poll. White House hopeful Barack Obama is preparing to make a keynote speech in Berlin on how he sees relations between America and Europe developing.
The Democratic senator is meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Berlin's Mayor Klaus Wowereit. His arrival in the German capital kicked off the European leg of the Democrat's world tour ahead of November's US presidential election.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather later when he makes the only public speech of his tour. He has been meeting German leaders including Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Mr Obama, 46, is due to visit France on Friday and Britain on Saturday. Thousands of people are due to gather to hear him make the only public speech of his tour at the Victory Column.
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in Berlin, says the Illinois senator is very popular in Germany, where surveys suggest three-quarters of people want him to be the next US president. "Hopefully [the speech] will be viewed as a substantive articulation of the relationship I'd like to see between the United States and Europe," he told reporters on the eve of his arrival.
He says Mr Obama will be hoping that once TV pictures of him addressing cheering crowds of Berliners have been beamed back to America it will boost his image as an international statesman, and his chances of beating Republican rival John McCain this autumn. The BBC's Steve Rosenberg reports from Berlin that the Illinois senator, 46, is very popular in Germany, where surveys suggest three-quarters of people want him to be the next US president.
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German Country and Western fans explain why they support ObamaGerman Country and Western fans explain why they support Obama
Mr Obama flew to Germany after visiting Israel and the West Bank. Mr Obama will be hoping that once TV pictures of him addressing cheering crowds of Berliners have been beamed back to America it will boost his image as an international statesman, and his chances of beating Republican rival John McCain this autumn, our correspondent adds.
Security was tight for the visit, and there was one report that the hotel where Mr Obama was staying in Berlin was closed off after a suspicious package was found. Mr Obama flew to Germany after visiting Israel and the West Bank and is due to visit France on Friday, then Britain on Saturday.
On the eve of his arrival in Berlin, Mr Obama told reporters: "Hopefully [the speech] will be viewed as a substantive articulation of the relationship I'd like to see between the United States and Europe. Security is tight in Berlin, with one report that the hotel where Mr Obama is staying in Berlin was closed off after a suspicious package was found.
City of speeches
Mr Obama is also meeting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit.
Climate change activists turned out for Mr Obama's visit
"I'm hoping to communicate across the Atlantic the value of [the] relationship [with Europe] and how we need to build on it," he said before arriving.
"Obviously Berlin is representative of the extraordinary success of the post-World War II effort to bring the continent together and to bring the West together, and later to bring the East and the West together," he said.
"So I think it is a natural place to talk."
His evening speech will be shown live on German television from the Victory Column in the central Tiergarten Park.
His talks with Ms Merkel were "very open" and wide-ranging, her spokesman said after they met at her office.
They stressed the "great significance of close and friendly German-American relations", the spokesman added.
OBAMA'S POPULARITY Diary: Barack Obama's world tourJustin Webb's US election blogElection issues: Foreign policyOBAMA'S POPULARITY Diary: Barack Obama's world tourJustin Webb's US election blogElection issues: Foreign policy
"I'm hoping to communicate across the Atlantic the value of that relationship and how we need to build on it."
Big crowds are expected for his evening speech - which will be shown live on German television - at the Victory Column in central Berlin's Tiergarten Park.
Ms Merkel reportedly blocked his campaign team's plans for him to deliver the address at the Brandenburg Gate, which stood behind the Berlin Wall for decades as a potent symbol of the Cold War.Ms Merkel reportedly blocked his campaign team's plans for him to deliver the address at the Brandenburg Gate, which stood behind the Berlin Wall for decades as a potent symbol of the Cold War.
The Gate is where President Ronald Reagan famously urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" in 1987. The gate is where President Ronald Reagan famously urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" in 1987.
President John F Kennedy - with whom Mr Obama is sometimes compared - also visited the Gate in 1963, although his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech was delivered elsewhere in the city. President John F Kennedy - to whom Mr Obama is sometimes compared - also visited the Gate in 1963, although his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech was delivered elsewhere in the city.
On Friday, Mr Obama will meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris before wrapping up his tour in London by calling on British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his predecessor, current international Middle East envoy Tony Blair. On Friday, Mr Obama will meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris before wrapping up his tour in London by visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his predecessor, current international Middle East envoy Tony Blair.
Mr Obama has also visited Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq and Jordan in the last few days.Mr Obama has also visited Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq and Jordan in the last few days.