Addis Ababa — A ground breaking ceremony was held on Saturday for a 1.5 billion Birr five star hotel to be constructed adjacent to the African Union Commission (AUC) headquarter in Addis Ababa.

The newly elected AU Chairperson, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, the outgoing AU Commission Chairperson Professor Alpha Omar Konare and Sheik Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi, the Saudi-Ethiopian business tycoon laid the cornerstone.

The government of Ethiopia has earlier granted 120,000 square meters of land to the AU for the construction of the buildings encompassing various facilities and future expansion of the Commission.

Some 25,000 square meters of this land was allocated for the construction of the 5 star hotel which will gratify for the city's conference clientele as well as for Heads of State and Government.

The construction of the hotel is expected to be finalized by the year 2010.