Anti-Iran demo as fans gather before Group D match
(21 Jun 2006) 1. Various of demonstrations organised by the Coalition Against Anti-semitism 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sebastian Voigt, Spokesman for Coalition Against Anti-semitism "There's a game today in Leipzig between Iran and Angola and we want to protest against the dictatorship in Iran." 3. Demo 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sebastian Voigt, Spokesman for Coalition against anti-semitism "Football and politics cannot be separated, or, they cannot be dealt with separately because the Iranian President told (said) that he intends to join one of the football games of the Iranian team in Germany, and so this politicised the whole issue." 5. Various of demo 6. Various of Iranian football supporters. 7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, Iranian supporter "We are coming here only to support our team and for the world cup and to party here, not for political reasons." Pan to another Iranian supporter 8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, Iranian Supporter "Politics is for politicians, we are real football supporters." 9. Iranian supporters leaving 10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vox Pop, Angolan Supporter "I think Angola go through, no problem about it we will win three nil, four nil, whatever, we just go through." 11. Various of Angolan supporters STORYLINE: A rally was staged in Leipzig on Tuesday by the "Coalition Against Anti-semitism", a pro-Israel organisation, to protest against the Iranian President's questioning of the Holocaust as Iran's football team played its third match of the FIFA World Cup against Angola. Demonstrators waved Israeli and Iranian flags at the rally. "We want to protest against the dictatorship in Iran," said Sebastian Voigt, of the "Coalition Against Anti-semitism". Voigt added that football and politics "cannot be dealt with separately because the Iranian President told (said) that he intends to join one of the football games of the Iranian team in Germany, and so this politicised the whole issue." It's not the first time Iran has drawn protests in Germany from pro-Israel groups and Iranian exiles angered by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denial remarks and suggestions Israel has no right to exist, and by Iran's nuclear ambitions. Iran, which has no chance of advancing to the second round of the competition, will face an Angola who have a slim chance of qualifying if they win by a large margin and Portugal follow suit against Mexico. The two countries have never played each other. Keyword-world Cup 2006 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
