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Berlin remembers fall of the Wall Berlin remembers fall of the Wall
(about 1 hour later)
Celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall are reaching their climax. World leaders have hailed the fall of the Berlin Wall in celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the political upheaval that transformed Europe.
Leaders from around the world have gathered at the Brandenburg Gate for a commemorative concert. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was joined at the Brandenburg Gate by Russia's Dmitry Medvedev, France's Nicolas Sarkozy and UK PM Gordon Brown.
Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel walked across a bridge that was the first crossing opened between East and West on 9 November 1989. In a special video address, US President Barack Obama said Berliners on 9 November 1989 had rebuked tyranny.
The wall's fall led to the collapse of Communist power, German reunification and the Cold War's end. The wall's fall saw communism collapse, Germany reunify and the Cold War end.
Communist East Germany erected the 155-km (96-mile) concrete barrier in 1961 to encircle West Berlin and prevent citizens from fleeing into the capitalist enclave.Communist East Germany erected the 155-km (96-mile) concrete barrier in 1961 to encircle West Berlin and prevent citizens from fleeing into the capitalist enclave.
It's a day of celebration for the whole of Europe Angela Merkel Hewitt: Exhilaration of freedom Wall's fall: Your memories Russia's mixed feelings There could be no clearer rebuke of tyranny, no stronger affirmation of freedom Barack Obama class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8350810.stm">In pictures: Berlin Wall anniversary Hewitt: Exhilaration of freedom Wall's fall: Your memories Russia's mixed feelings
At least 136 people are thought to have been killed at the wall while trying to escape.At least 136 people are thought to have been killed at the wall while trying to escape.
Angela Merkel, who grew up in East Germany, led Monday's celebrations. Ms Merkel, who grew up in East Germany, presided over Monday's celebrations.
The German chancellor retraced her steps on the night the wall fell by crossing what used to be the Bornholmer Strasse checkpoint, the first to open 20 years ago. She led a procession of leaders through the Brandenburg Gate - the symbol of German reunification in 1990.
Ms Merkel was joined by ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Lech Walesa, the former Polish trade union leader and later president, whose movement was the first to challenge Communist rule successfully in Eastern Europe. The presidents of Russia and France, the British premier and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were among those who joined the German chancellor.
There was applause and cheers from hundreds of onlookers as Ms Merkel praised Mr Gorbachev for helping to make change possible. Ms Merkel said: "Freedom is… the most precious element of our political and social system. Without freedom there is no democracy."
HOW THE WALL FELL 13 August 1961: East Germany erects the Berlin WallAugust-September 1989: Tens of thousands of East Germans seek asylum abroad as communist control over Eastern Europe relaxes7 October: Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev indirectly calls for reform on a visit to East Berlin 18 October 1989: Egon Krenz replaces Erich Honecker as East Germany's leader after anti-government protests4 November: Mass protests by East Germans against the government culminate in a million-strong rally in Berlin9 November: The Wall is breached after the East German government moves to lift restrictions on travel across the border to West Germany The night the Wall fell Free market flawed, says survey Send us your commentsHOW THE WALL FELL 13 August 1961: East Germany erects the Berlin WallAugust-September 1989: Tens of thousands of East Germans seek asylum abroad as communist control over Eastern Europe relaxes7 October: Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev indirectly calls for reform on a visit to East Berlin 18 October 1989: Egon Krenz replaces Erich Honecker as East Germany's leader after anti-government protests4 November: Mass protests by East Germans against the government culminate in a million-strong rally in Berlin9 November: The Wall is breached after the East German government moves to lift restrictions on travel across the border to West Germany The night the Wall fell Free market flawed, says survey Send us your comments
"It's not only a day of celebration for Germans. It's a day of celebration for the whole of Europe," she said. Mrs Clinton also spoke, before introducing a surprise video address from Washington by Mr Obama.
Earlier, Ms Merkel said in a TV interview that German unity was still incomplete, as the East lagged in economic growth.
The main events marking the anniversary in the city are taking place at the Brandenburg Gate - the symbol of German reunification in 1990.
Ms Merkel led a procession of leaders, including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton through the Gate.
US President Barack Obama, who could not attend the celebrations, made a surprise video address.
"There could be no clearer rebuke of tyranny. There could be no stronger affirmation of freedom," he said of the wall's tearing down."There could be no clearer rebuke of tyranny. There could be no stronger affirmation of freedom," he said of the wall's tearing down.
In his speech, Mr Brown praised the spirit of Berliners, saying: "You dared to dream in the darkness. You knew that while force has the temporary power to dominate, it can never ultimately dictate." Mr Medvedev said the events of 20 years ago had helped Russia and Germany end their World War II enmity.
Ms Merkel said that that day two decades ago had been "one of the most joyful days of my life". He said he hoped everyone had rejected the dividing lines represented by the wall.
"Freedom is… the most precious element of our political and social system," she added. "Without freedom there is no democracy." In his speech, Mr Brown told Berliners: "You dared to dream in the darkness. You knew that while force has the temporary power to dominate, it can never ultimately dictate."
Also attending is former Hungarian Prime Minister Miklos Nemeth, whose decision to open his country's borders first allowed East Germans to flee to the West. Later, hundreds of giant foam dominoes - painted with messages of freedom by young people - that had been placed along the former route of the wall were toppled to reflect how the then Communist governments of Eastern Europe fell one after another.
Later, hundreds of giant foam dominoes - painted with messages of freedom by young people - placed along the former route of the wall were toppled to show how the then Communist governments of Eastern Europe fell one after another. Earlier in the day, the German chancellor retraced her steps on the night the wall fell by crossing what used to be the Bornholmer Strasse checkpoint, the first to open 20 years ago.
The festivities are being capped with fireworks and a concert featuring performances by musicians from across the world. Ms Merkel was joined by ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and Lech Walesa, the former Polish trade union leader and later president, whose movement was the first to challenge Communist rule successfully in Eastern Europe.
Meanwhile, Guenter Schabowski - the former East German official whose casual public comments about the proposed ending of restrictions on travel from East to West Berlin are widely thought to have led to the fall of the wall - has admitted there had been a breakdown in communication with his party boss, Egon Krenz. There were cheers from hundreds of onlookers as Ms Merkel praised Mr Gorbachev for helping to make change possible.
Mr Schabowski blurted out the plans during a televised press conference - and compounded his error by adding the new rules would come into force "immediately". Earlier, Ms Merkel said in a TV interview that German unity was still incomplete, as the East lagged in economic growth.
He told the BBC he did not regret his blunder because it had led to the divided Germany being reunited peacefully. Former Hungarian Prime Minister Miklos Nemeth, whose decision to open his country's borders first allowed East Germans to flee to the West, also attended the celebrations.
On the eve of the celebrations, Mrs Clinton called for a new push to free those still oppressed. The festivities were being capped with a concert featuring performances by musicians from across the world.
"Our history did not end the night the wall came down," she said.
"To expand freedom to more people, we cannot accept that freedom does not belong to all people."