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| David Hasselhoff adds voice to Berlin Wall protests | David Hasselhoff adds voice to Berlin Wall protests |
| (4 months later) | |
| In the past he has compained that his role in helping the Berlin Wall come down has been overlooked. | In the past he has compained that his role in helping the Berlin Wall come down has been overlooked. |
| Now David Hasselhoff has joined a campaign calling for the longest remaining part of the barrier to stay standing. | Now David Hasselhoff has joined a campaign calling for the longest remaining part of the barrier to stay standing. |
| The US actor, who is adored by fans in Germany after his 1989 performance of his song Looking for Freedom on top of the Wall, told his Twitter followers that he would sign a petition opposing the demolition of a section beside Berlin's East Side Gallery to make way for a bridge leading to a block of flats. | The US actor, who is adored by fans in Germany after his 1989 performance of his song Looking for Freedom on top of the Wall, told his Twitter followers that he would sign a petition opposing the demolition of a section beside Berlin's East Side Gallery to make way for a bridge leading to a block of flats. |
| The Baywatch and Knight Rider star tweeted on Monday morning: "How can you tear down the wall that signifies freedom, perseverance and the sacrifice of human life?", along with a link to the petition, which has already been signed by more than 62,000. | The Baywatch and Knight Rider star tweeted on Monday morning: "How can you tear down the wall that signifies freedom, perseverance and the sacrifice of human life?", along with a link to the petition, which has already been signed by more than 62,000. |
| The partial demolition of the 0.8-mile (1.3km) stretch in the district of Friedrichshain has triggered outrage and led thousands to protest at the site on Sunday. | The partial demolition of the 0.8-mile (1.3km) stretch in the district of Friedrichshain has triggered outrage and led thousands to protest at the site on Sunday. |
| A 1.5-metre (5ft) section of the wall was removed before the first protests on Friday. Another 18.5 metres is due to be dismantled, but public fury has brought the work to a temporary halt until 18 March when representatives of the developers Living Bauhaus are to meet Berlin's senate and district government. | A 1.5-metre (5ft) section of the wall was removed before the first protests on Friday. Another 18.5 metres is due to be dismantled, but public fury has brought the work to a temporary halt until 18 March when representatives of the developers Living Bauhaus are to meet Berlin's senate and district government. |
| Volker Thoms, a spokesman for Maik Uwe Hinkel, the project's investor, said the pieces were being removed to make way for the rebuilding of a bridge destroyed during the second world war, not for the flats themselves. He said the removal was being carried out on behalf of Berlin's district authorities but that the bridge would also provide access to the apartments being developed. | Volker Thoms, a spokesman for Maik Uwe Hinkel, the project's investor, said the pieces were being removed to make way for the rebuilding of a bridge destroyed during the second world war, not for the flats themselves. He said the removal was being carried out on behalf of Berlin's district authorities but that the bridge would also provide access to the apartments being developed. |
| "Mr Hinkel doesn't need it [the wall] to be removed. He would also be happy if another solution could be found. It has to be discussed," Thoms said. | "Mr Hinkel doesn't need it [the wall] to be removed. He would also be happy if another solution could be found. It has to be discussed," Thoms said. |
| Alex Klausmeier, director of the Berlin Wall Memorial association, said he was surprised by the strong public reaction, but happy that the issue was being given so much attention. | Alex Klausmeier, director of the Berlin Wall Memorial association, said he was surprised by the strong public reaction, but happy that the issue was being given so much attention. |
| "The wall is such an important part of Berlin's history and that people are in the streets demonstrating ... shows that the wall is something special," he said. "It's important to keep it as it is." | "The wall is such an important part of Berlin's history and that people are in the streets demonstrating ... shows that the wall is something special," he said. "It's important to keep it as it is." |
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