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CNN Live At Daybreak

Thousands of Demonstrators in Berlin Critical of President Bush

Aired May 22, 2002 - 06:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Our Chris Burns is actually in Berlin, one of the stops on Mr. Bush's European trip. Thousands of demonstrators marched there yesterday under heavy police security. Their banners were critical of the American president. A feeling Chris reports is shared by many across Germany.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It begins at least as a festive march with street theater. President Bush as Count Dracula; tethered to him, Mother Nature writhing in agony. And a soldier woman marching off to war. Hard for the message to get any stronger, but it does. The effigy chews on a plastic baby and spits blood.

The causes are many, but the main message is clear: leftists, environmentalists, anti-globalists, communists, activists from a myriad of movements saying President Bush isn't welcome here. They counter is crusade against the axis of evil with a march for the axis of peace.

(on camera): This is just the beginning of a whole series of demonstrations planned around George W. Bush's trip. And these protesters are only some of the most vocal. A new poll here in Germany says half of those responding have a negative view of the U.S. president.

(voice-over): That's about the same percentage as in Britain and France. And the survey by the agency NFO says 65 percent of Germans polled feel the United States intervenes in crises only in its interest.

Stephon Soim (ph) is an environmental (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

STEPHON SOIM (ph): I think that he stretches his offers quite a bit in drawing unilateral agreements, drawing back from international agreements such as Kyoto or the ABM treaty. And I think that's a very dangerous path.

BURN: As Bush prepares to press Germany to back possible military action against the Iraqi regime, a message from activist Tina Kleiber (ph).

TINA KLEIBER (ph): Saying no to war, saying no to this fight against terrorism, which I find very frightening.

BURNS: The atmosphere may be festive, but German authorities are preparing for something more. They've mobilized 10,000 police from around the country, the biggest security operation in Berlin since World War II. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is promising tough police action against any violence unrest. Unrest that could, as in so many other protests, hijack the political messages.

Chris Burns, CNN, Berlin.

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