A BOUT 3,000 people marched through central Phnom Penh to mark World AIDS Day on December 4 to promote the use of condoms for safe-sex.

The parade featured giant cardboard condoms and posters and t-shirts with messages such as: "Condoms - the family friend" and "Aids is not about who you are or what you are. Its about what you do and how you do it."

The marchers, including representatives of government ministries and international and local NGOs, walked from near the Royal Palace to the park outside Wat Botum, where they were entertained by musicians and dancers.

Sok Rait, from the Cambodian Women in Development Association, said Cambodians' knowledge about AIDS seemed to be increasing.

But many people still thought they should use condoms only when having sex with prostitutes, and did not realize that AIDS was not limited to the sex industry.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, between 3000 to 5000 people in Cambodia are estimated to have the HIV virus which can lead to full-blown AIDS.

The first cases of HIV-positive people were identified in Cambodia in 1991. So far in 1994 alone, some 294 blood donors have tested positive.