BERLIN — In a highly unusual move for an American presidential candidate, Barack Obama staged a foreign-policy speech Thursday before a huge overseas audience. He called for renewed trans-Atlantic cooperation to rein in Iran, fight religious extremism and terrorism, and address global warming and poverty.
"People of Berlin, people of the world, this is our moment, this is our time," the Democratic hopeful told an enthusiastic outdoor crowd, which local authorities estimated at more than 200,000.
Turning a critical eye on the U.S. and implicitly criticizing President Bush, Obama said, "I know my country has not perfected itself," and "we've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions."
The Europeans roared with approval.
Speaking before sunset at the Victory Column in Berlin's Tiergarten, to a crowd that stretched close to a mile back to the Brandenburg Gate, the first-term senator, who is extremely popular in Western Europe, recalled the celebration after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.
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Obama, 46, warned that today "the greatest danger of all is to allow new walls to divide us from one another."
Obama implored European leaders to send more troops to fight al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan alongside the United States.
"America cannot do this alone. The Afghan people need our troops and your troops," he said.
Obama and his campaign have sought to downplay the campaign aspects of the Berlin appearance and his entire foreign trip this week.
"I speak to you not as a candidate for president, but as a citizen," he said, "a proud citizen of the United States and a fellow citizen of the world."
Obama arrived in Germany Thursday morning to much fanfare, as local television stations aired live coverage. Fans gathered in the streets for a glimpse of him outside his hotel and as he arrived for a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Josephine Wagner-Quist of Heidelberg was among them.
"We hope that everything goes better in the United States," she said. "Maybe we'll have a little peace."
Inge Evertsson of Sweden, vacationing in Berlin, said he likes the idea of Obama as president because it would represent "a new era. America is still the most important country, and the president has much to decide."
Before leaving Israel for Germany, Obama visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, accompanied by a rabbi.
Although the predawn visit was not advertised, it was widely anticipated, and in the waning moonlight he was heckled by a protester shouting, "Obama, Jerusalem is not for sale!" as other locals who supported Obama tried to drown out the protester's cries.
The Illinois senator had said on Wednesday that he supports making Jerusalem the capital of Israel, but added that its ultimate status should be determined by negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
At the wall, Obama slipped a prayer note in one of the gaps in the stone, as is customary. He placed a hand on the wall and bowed his head.
