25th anniversary party-time in Berlin after sombre Wall commemoration

A day that began in mournful contemplation ended in a raucous street party for hundreds of thousands as Germany marked the 25th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

The split nature of the commemorations - downbeat trumpets on Sunday morning, gyrating pop stars at night - reflected the silver anniversary's strange duality.

A quarter of a century after it came down, the wall still evokes some of modern Europe's darkest hours and hardest-fought triumphs. And in this nation of 80 million its demise is at once an occasion for sober reflection about its many victims and cause for rejoicing over the cold war's abrupt end.

Under chilly grey skies, dissidents and dignitaries gathered on Sunday morning in a residential section of central Berlin next to an extant portion of the wall that has been refurbished as a memorial.

With a former East German watchtower looming behind her, Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel received a flower from one of dozens of goodwill child volunteers and joined them and others in placing the blossoms in spaces in the wall.

On Sunday evening, entertainers of all stripes took the stage outside the Brandenburg Gate, the ornate landmark that separated East and West Berlin and where numerous leaders, including Ronald Reagan, gave famous cold war speeches.

The evening contained some political content - after nodding to Mikhail Gorbachev on a dais, Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit drew cheers of "Gorby" from the crowd - but for the most part music and revelry reigned.