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German brothel reaps windfall profits from parliament flag

Sat Jul 24, 6:30 PM ET

HALLE, Germany (AFP) - A German brothel owner has sold a flag that used to
flutter above Berlin's Reichstag parliament building for five times the sum
she paid for it and says much of the proceeds will go to charity.

"We have sold it at auction on the Internet for 16,050 euros (19,000
dollars)," said Christiane Schmittroth, director of the X-Carree brothel in
the eastern town of Halle.

Schmittroth, 42, caused uproar when she made the winning bid at an auction
for the flag organised by the cash-strapped Bundestag lower house of
parliament, which sits in the Reichstag.

But shocked German deputies soon discovered that the red, black and gold
banner was to fly proudly from the roof of a brothel.

"It is a scandal for Germany," said one conservative opposition lawmaker.

Now the flag has moved on. "We have now sold it to a gentleman in western
Germany, whose identity we would prefer to keep a secret," said Schmittroth.

She said the price had probably rocketed to 16,000 euros from its purchase
price of just 3,350 euros because of the huge media interest in the scandal.

"As promised the lion's share of the sale will go to local children
suffering from cancer," she said.

In all, the 6.5 by 4.5 metre (21 by 15 foot) flag waved proudly above the
brothel for about three weeks.


Copyright © 2004 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.