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Title: U.S. State Department lifts warning to African Americans about 'racist' Spaniards... just as Michelle Obama jets into Marbella
Source:
DAILYMAIL
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/wor ... ar-holiday-daughter-Sasha.html
Published: Aug 4, 2010
Author: By Mail Foreign Service
Post Date: 2010-08-04 13:21:57 by HAPPY2BME-4UM
Keywords: None
Views: 130
Comments: 1
The Obama administration faced an embarrassing diplomatic blunder today after it was forced to pull a warning about racism in Spain - just as the First Lady arrived in the country for a summer holiday. Staff at the U.S. State Department removed the contentious advice to travellers, which included the phrase 'racist prejudices could lead to the arrest of Afro-Americans who travel to Spain,' from its website on Monday. The First Lady landed in the Costa del Sol this morning for a break with her youngest daughter Sasha, nine. Touch down: Michelle and Sasha Obama arrive at Malaga airport in an air force jet VIP welcome: The First Lady and her daughter are greeted at Malaga airport She is on a four-day visit and will be staying at the five-star Villa Padierna, rated as one of the world's top 30 hotels, with 40 friends. The party has reserved 60 rooms. But Mrs Obama's trip now risks being overshadowed by a row about institutionalised racism. The State Department advice sat alongside information about ETA and Islamist terrorist attacks in the country. Officials from The Office for Consular Affairs noted that there had been 'isolated reports' of travellers being arrested. They cited an incident last year in which police detained two US government employees, both of them African-American, for no apparent reason. But the warning was removed after calls from the Spanish media about Mrs Obama's visit. The State Department said it was no longer relevant as the incident took place last year. Michelle and Sasha travel by car from the airport to a luxury five-star hotel Michelle and Sasha Obama travel by car to the Villa Padierna in Marbella 'The note has been removed. It was 15 months old and out of date. Somebody forgot to remove it,' the U.S. embassy in Madrid said. 'We are in no way suggesting Spanish police are racist. This is an isolated incident.' America's First Lady's Air Force Two jet touched down at Malaga airport where Mrs Obama, who turns 49 today, arrived wearing sunglasses and carrying a large black bag. She and Sasha were then transported by car to the seaside resort of Marbella. Flags welcoming the Obama family were waving in the breeze as Marbella - often associated with reality TV and gangsters - geared up for their arrival. A large billboard reading: 'Welcome Obama Family: Thank you for choosing Marbella!' painted in red, white and blue hung in the city. The Hotel Villa Padierna, which sits in the hills above Marbella and belongs to the Ritz-Carlton group, also boasted a large U.S. flag above its entrance to welcome the ladies. 'Millionaires' playground': The hotel Villa Padierna in Marbella, where Michelle and Sasha Obama will stay for four days Welcome: A Spanish civil guard stands outside the Hotel Villa Padierna where the America flag is flying to honour the Obamas' visit Luxurious: The Obamas have booked 60 rooms and will spend four nights at the five-star Villa Padierna Ricardo Arranz, the hotel owner confirmed the Obamas had reserved 60 rooms for themselves, their friends and their security team. 'Everything is ready,' he said adding that they had not asked for 'special treatment. All they have asked for is discretion.' 'We feel a huge responsibility to ensure that all goes well because of the repercussions the visit is having, which could be good for this hotel and for all of the Costa del Sol.' The 129-room establishment, an Italian palazzo-style building, is nestled in the hills of Benahavis overlooking the millionaires' playground of Marbella and about three miles from the coast. Rooms start at £210-a-night and stretch to around £4,100 for a villa with 24-hour butler service and private pool and garden. The Villa Padierna has five restaurants, a spa and access to three 18-hole golf courses. A banner welcoming the Obama family near the hotel Villa Padierna in Marbella, southern Spain Local officials have had roads re-paved and gardens tidied-up. New street lights have also been installed. Meanwhile, dozens of press have staked out the entrance to the hotel awaiting the arrival of Mrs Obama and her daughter. The White House confirmed Mrs Obama is in southern Spain for 'a private, mother-daughter trip with long-time family friends'. However, President Barack Obama is not expected to join them, while eldest daughter Malia, 12, is at a summer camp in the U.S. He is celebrating his 49th birthday at home alone today. Mrs Obama and her daughter are expected to visit Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at their summer palace on the island of Majorca, a short flight from Marbella. The First Lady will also visit the city of Granada to see the spectacular Alhambra Palace tomorrow (Thursday). She will also visit the cathedral and the hilltop Albaicin quarter of narrow alleyways and small squares. Costa del crime? The south of Spain has battled a reputation of gangsters and corruption Some 250 Spanish officers and military personnel will protect the Obamas during their stay. They include police divers, bomb disposal experts and dog handlers. About 70 U.S. Secret Service agents are also in Marbella, some of them dressed undercover as touriststs. The visit is expected to be covered by more than 8,000 newspapers, TV stations, radio programmes and magazines around the world. The beaches in the area have been cleaned up in anticipation of the visit. The Costa del Sol is the number one holiday destination for British tourists. More than 30 per cent of the 8.5 million holidaymakers it receives every year are from the UK.
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The Obama administration faced an embarrassing diplomatic blunder today after it was forced to pull a warning about racism in Spain - just as the First Lady arrived in the country for a summer holiday.
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