1.
GV BRANDENBURG GATE FROM BRITISH SECTOR
0.06

2.
LV (THROUGH BARBED WIRES) MEN WITH EARTH MOVING VEHICLE
0.10

3.
SV DITTO MEN WORKING
0.16

4.
SV TWO MEN, ONE POINTING
0.21

5.
GV PAN (EAST GERMAN SIDE) ACROSS BUILDING SITE TO BRANDENBURG GATE
0.29

6.
SV (THROUGH WIRE) EAST GERMAN GUARD
0.37

7.
SV EARTH-MOVER BACKS AWAY
0.41

8.
SV MAN WORKS WITH FORK
0.44

9.
SV EARTH-MOVER DUMP BELOW
0.45

10.
LV EAST GERMAN SIDE, EARTH-MOVER BEING LOADED WITH OFFICE BLOCKS IN BACKGROUND
0.53

11.
GV ZOOM OUT BRANDENBURG GATE
1.02



Initials RM/S/RM/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SPECULATION THAT EAST GERMANY INTENDS TO OPEN UP THE BRANDENBURG GATE AS THE MAIN CROSSING POINT FROM EAST BERLIN WAS DISCOUNTED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY AN OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN. HOWEVER, NO EXPLANATION HAS BEEN GIVEN FOR THE DEMOLITION AND EARTH-MOVING WORK AROUND THE GATE.

THE 180-YEAR-OLD BRANDENBURG GATE, BERLIN'S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARK, WAS CLOSED WHEN THE COMMUNIST AUTHORITIES IN EAST BERLIN SEALED THE SECTOR BORDERS BY BUILDING THE BERLIN WALL IN 1961. THE DEMOLITION ACTIVITIES ON THE EAST BERLIN SIDE HAS INCREASED RECENTLY, WITH WIDE AREAS NEAR THE GATE BEING LEVELLED, AND SPECULATION IN WEST BERLIN WAS THAT A CUSTOMS SHED MIGHT BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

ABOUT 20 EAST BERLIN WORKMEN HAVE BEEN AT WORK NEAR THE GATE. IN ADDITION TO THE DEMOLITION, THEY HAVE BUILT A SMALL WALL AND SET UP FLOWER BEDS.