German far-right in spotlight as World Cup looms

WURZEN, Germany, June 1 (Reuters) In the mid-1990s, the small town of Wurzen near Leipzig in former communist east Germany was a flashpoint for neo-Nazi violence.

It came close to becoming what right-wing extremists dubbed a ''nationally liberated area,'' a place where immigrants and minorities had moved out because of violence and threats by neo-Nazi gangs.

The attacks have ceased, but anti-racism campaigners say the far-right is becoming more organised and actively recruiting among the young men of Wurzen.

The problem of racism in Germany has moved to centre-stage as millions of fans from across the world prepare to make their way to the 12 German cities, including Leipzig, hosting this year's World Cup soccer tournament.

Frank Schubert, a student and member of the anti-fascist Network for Democratic Culture, said the Wurzen far-right supporters were now printing T-shirts with neo-Nazi slogans and selling CDs of rock groups with extremist lyrics in their songs.

''Ten years ago, it was different,'' Schubert said. ''Now, they are thinking more long-term and creating a structure in order to have an economic base.'' ''They are making exactly the same kind of network as we are -- let's see who wins,'' the 27-year-old student added.

The far-right supporters' products help to recruit mainly young, male supporters, as well as anchoring them in the community, another member of the Network, Stephan Meister said.

''You just need to go into the shopping centre in Wurzen and look at the T-shirts the kids are wearing and you see what kind of influence they have,'' he said.

FEARS OF VIOLENCE A number of racially motivated attacks have sparked fears of a wave of neo-Nazi violence to coincide with the World Cup.

Last week, police said they had detained 27 people in Berlin and in two eastern towns for a series of racist attacks on foreigners that left at least one man with severe head injuries.

Uwe-Karsten Heye, head of the anti-racist organisation ''Gesicht zeigen'' (''Show face''), warned last month that black soccer fans would be risking their lives if they ventured into parts of Berlin and the surrounding state of Brandenburg.

The Africa Council, which represents Africans living in Germany, said it would print a list of places where African soccer fans should not go during the tournament.

''The concept of no-go areas is not a new phenomenon: we were highlighting this eight years ago,'' said Kay Wendel of Opferperspektive, a support group for victims of far-right violence based in the Brandenburg city of Potsdam.

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