The German capital marked the 20th anniversary of the fall of its famous Wall last night with U2 concert in the name of freedom, but the event was marred in controversy as officials had erected another wall around the venue cutting the view of the stage for thousands of ticketless fans. 

True, there were no watchtowers or guards carrying semi-automatic weapons, but the temporary fence built before the U2 gig did sent the wrong message.

Only 10,000 people, who had previously obtained their free tickets online, were allowed into the walled section.

According to Louis-Pierre Boily, a young Canadian tourist who failed to get tickets, to block the view like they did is absolutely ridiculous.

In Berlin to take part in the MTV European Music Awards, U2 had agreed to perform at the Brandenburg Gate venue as a participation to the ‘coming down of the Wall’ celebrations which are scheduled to culminate on November 9 – the very day East Germans citizens were given permission to across the border by the communist regime in charge at the time.

This coming Monday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, French President Sarkozy, Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Gordon Brown will gather at the Brandenburg Gate to mark the historic turning point. Bon Jovi is scheduled to entertain the masses for that occasion.

Putting fence controversies aside, the U2 performance was seen by Germans as a dramatic kick-off to the festivities. It’s poignant lyrics – I have run, I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls – were understood for its political significance, making a direct reference to the former East-West German divide.