Developer tears down further stretch of Berlin Wall

GERMANY: A property developer removed more of the Berlin Wall on Wednesday in a surprise dawn move amid a bitter running protest over the dismantling of the once-detested Cold War division.

Four segments were taken down from around 5:00 am (0400 GMT) from the Wall's longest surviving stretch, creating a gap of more than six metres (20 feet). But the property company said it was only a temporary measure.

Some 250 police were dispatched to the site.

Opponents have organised a rally for Thursday after several protests along the 1.3-kilometre (nearly one mile) stretch of Wall, known as the East Side Gallery, since the beginning of March when a first panel was taken away.

Investment group Living Bauhaus, which is building a residential development behind the Wall, said Wednesday's removal was temporary to provide access to the construction site.

"The parts of the Wall, 6.10 metres altogether, are subsequently to be inserted again into the Berlin Wall that is still standing," it said in a written statement.

AFP