Germany-US-Obama
US Democratic Party presidential contender Barack Obama arrived Thursday morning in Berlin for political talks with German leaders.

Merkel voiced hope for good discussions ahead of her meeting with Obama at the chancellery.

Talks were expected to focus on reviving transatlantic ties, NATO, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and climate protection.

Obama is also slated to meet with Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier later in the day.

The US Senator from Illinois is also scheduled to hold a landmark speech on his foreign policy agenda at an open air location in Berlin's city center.

Preparations for Obama's address were overshadowed Wednesday evening after a 40-year man driving a mini-van broke through a cordoned off security zone where the American presidential hopeful is to speak and spray-painted the area with a red colour.

The unidentified driver from the south German state of Baden- Wuerttemberg is now in police detention, pending an investigation.

Obama is extremely popular among Germans as various opinion polls have shown over the past weeks.

The presidential candidate enjoys approval ratings of up to 80 percent.

German-US ties were badly damaged during the presidency of George W. Bush as a result of Berlin's steadfast opposition to the illegal US war in Iraq.