Ethiopia celebrates new Millenium

Ethiopia entered the third millennium seven years after the rest of the world amid lavish celebrations, religious fervour and messages of hope from the troubled country's leaders. Ethiopians follow the Julian calendar that puts the birth of Christ seven-and-a-half years later than the more commonly followed Gregorian calendar.

As the giant countdown board in central Addis Ababa flashed the year 2000 at midnight, thousands of faithful from all over Ethiopia - which follows a unique slightly modified Julian calendar - gathered in churches.

Ethiopia is the only African nation never to have been colonised and is fiercely nationalistic, but the celebrations could not completely conceal the country's divisions. Ethiopia was one of the first Christian kingdoms in history but around half of its current population of 81 million is Muslim and the millennium buzz was lost on many.

Regular Ethiopians also have mixed feelings towards the millennium party, arguing that money used for a temporary concert hall could be better spent.

But officials were keen to make the year-long celebrations that kicked off today an opportunity to convey a different image of their country to the rest of the world.

"What Ethiopia is known for abroad, like droughts and famines, doesn't reflect the reality of our country," Tourism Minister Mohammed Dirir said before the celebrations started.