APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and the state president Girma Woldegiorgise on Friday evening congratulated Tirunesh Dibaba for winning the first Olympic gold medal in the women’s 10,000m for Africa and Ethiopia, APA learns here.

The Ethiopian ministry of Women’s Affairs and other ministries as well as various regional government authorities also congratulated Dibaba as a “heroine”.

Dibaba finished the race by recording an Olympic cecord of 29 minutes 54.66 seconds while another Ethiopian born athlete, Elvan Abeylegesse, who now runs for Turkey finished second, followed by another athlete from the USA.

Following Dibaba’s victory, Ethiopian Television (ETV) suspended Friday evening its regular program and gave an extensive coverage to the Dibaba victory celebrations.

Dibaba’s victory is being regarded as encouraging for the other Ethiopian athletes, including Kenenisa Bekele and other athletes who are waiting their turn at the Beijing Olympics.

Dibaba, who also holds the world record in the 5, 000m is expected to participate in the 5,000m race. Although, she has still not decided on that.

In a related development, two Ethiopian athletes in the men’s 1,500 metres have qualified on Friday for their next race next week. They are Derese mekonen and Mulugeta Wondimu.

Also in the women’s 3,000 metres, another Ethiopian athlete, Zemzem Ahmed has qualified for the finals.