"The German government strongly denied Friday that it had been pressured by the Bush administration to discourage Sen. Barack Obama from giving an address in front of the landmark Brandenburg Gate during his upcoming European tour.

Obama's campaign has declined to confirm the dates of his trip, but politicians here continued to squabble over where, exactly, to lay out the red carpet for the presumptive Democratic nominee, who, in contrast to President Bush, is very popular with the German public.

Officials on both sides of the Atlantic were trying yesterday to tamp down allegations that the Bush administration sought to squelch Obama's speech in front of the gate, which has become a symbol of Berlin's division and reunification. Obama aides confirmed that the landmark was among the locations they had inquired about for an appearance.

The German tabloid Bild reported that Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert M. Kimmitt may have played the heavy when he told a group of German businessmen, "It would be nice if the German government would focus on strengthening its contacts to us rather than already beginning to look for our successors."

Brookly McLaughlin, a Treasury spokeswoman, said that Kimmitt's remarks were taken out of context and that he was merely saying he hoped the Merkel government remains engaged with the Bush administration as it reaches out to Bush's potential successor.

She added that Kimmitt, a former ambassador to Germany, made the comments last week when he was in Berlin for the opening of the new U.S. Embassy building, days before the issue of Obama's possibly speaking at the Brandenberg Gate came up.

Asked if any Bush administration officials had discussed the matter with their German counterparts, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said, "Not that we're aware of." He added: "Our position is that each candidate is going to have to make decisions on their own about their campaigns."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed her displeasure with Obama's interest in giving a major speech on transatlantic relations at the site, the historic entrance to the heart of the city and the backdrop for President Ronald Reagan's famous address in 1987 in which he called on Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.

A spokesman for Merkel said this week that the chancellor had "little sympathy for the Brandenburg Gate being used for electioneering and has expressed her doubts about the idea."

Before the Bild report named Kimmitt, German newspapers said that during the Group of Eight summit in Tokyo this week, an unnamed Bush administration official asked Merkel's foreign policy adviser, Christoph Heusgen, to declare the Brandenburg Gate off limits. At a news conference, government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm called the reports "inaccurate in every way."

But he backpedaled when asked if Merkel still opposed the site being used for an American campaign event, saying the government hoped that "a consensual and good solution" would be achieved.

"The question of whether there will be a public appearance and, if so, what type, is for Senator Obama to decide," Wilhelm said.

Officially, the final say on where Obama will be allowed to speak belongs to Berlin's mayor, Klaus Wowereit. A political rival of the chancellor's, Wowereit has said that Obama can campaign wherever he pleases, including the gate.

"It's embarrassing, this situation that the chancellor has caused," said Richard Meng, a spokesman for the mayor. "We don't think it's appropriate to tell an American in Berlin he or she cannot speak at the Brandenburg Gate. We can't agree with her, and no one here understands her."

He acknowledged, however, that Obama may pick another site rather than risk alienating Merkel, who has been a close ally of the Bush administration and has restored close relations with Washington after some chilly years under her predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder. Other spots under consideration include the plaza outside Berlin's city hall.

"He has said he won't speak anywhere that would upset the chancellor," Meng said. "If he still wants to speak at the Brandenburg Gate, we would support him."

Even members of Merkel's party, including Ruprecht Polenz, the chairman of the German Parliament's foreign relations committee, are coming out against her comments.

Obama's trip to Europe is being treated as big news in London, Paris and Berlin. British papers were buzzing about his expected arrival on July 18, only to report today that London is being snubbed because Obama will touch down first in Berlin.

House aides confirmed yesterday that Rep. Richard E. Neal (D-Mass.) is encouraging Obama to add a visit to Ireland to his agenda, holding the nation out as a model of conflict resolution. Appearing there would also serve as a boost for Obama among the tens of millions of Irish in the United States.

He will also visit Israel and Jordan. Although Iraq is not an announced part of his itinerary, Obama has said he will also go there soon. Also going will be Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), an Armed Services Committee member and former Army officer.

Campaign and congressional sources confirmed yesterday that Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), an opponent of the Iraq war and a dark horse candidate to become Obama's running mate, will join the senator from Illinois in Iraq.

That part of Obama's trip, which almost certainly would be the most important politically, has been obscured by the chatter around his Berlin visit. A poll commissioned by Bild Am Sonntag, Bild's Sunday edition, found that 72 percent of Germans surveyed wanted Obama to win the U.S. presidency, compared with 11 percent who supported Sen. John McCain.

Merkel's aides have said the chancellor thinks only elected foreign leaders should be allowed to use the Brandenburg Gate as a backdrop, and only for nonpartisan addresses. But the site has been employed by people other than heads of state before. On May 19, the Dalai Lama spoke there.

The gate, built in 1791, is a popular stop for American presidents. George H.W. Bush gave a brief speech there last week for the grand opening of the new U.S. Embassy nearby. Bill Clinton spoke there in 1994.

In 1963, John F. Kennedy spoke in another part of Berlin when he gave his famous Cold War address and declared, "Ich bin ein Berliner" -- "I am a Berliner."" (Craig Whitlock and Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post, July 12, 2008)

Weisman reported from Washington. Staff writer Dan Eggen in Washington, correspondent Mary Jordan in London and special correspondent Shannon Smiley in Berlin contributed to this report.