Weimar, Germany; 12 July 2000 (RFE/RL) - Iranian President Mohammad
Khatami's arrival today in the eastern German city of Weimar was met with
protests. Groups of Iranian exiles and human rights activists breached tight
security to wave banners and shout slogans, as Khatami arrived.
Police say
some 40 people were detained from a group shouting "death to Khatami."
Khatami will unveil a monument to the Persian national poet Hafis, who influenced Germany's national poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He is also scheduled to take part in a "dialogue of civilizations" today with German President Johannes Rau. The aim of the dialogue is to stress the chances for cooperation between world religions.
Khatami is due to fly back to Tehran later today.
Khatami will unveil a monument to the Persian national poet Hafis, who influenced Germany's national poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He is also scheduled to take part in a "dialogue of civilizations" today with German President Johannes Rau. The aim of the dialogue is to stress the chances for cooperation between world religions.
Khatami is due to fly back to Tehran later today.