Nelson Mandela: We must work towards a peaceful and just society

President Boris Yeltsin described the last year as hard, both for him and for Russia, but said he hoped to leave its bad legacy behind.

The Pope reminded Roman Catholics that they will have to prepare for Christianity's third millenium.

And President Nelson Mandela, welcoming in his last New Year as South Africa's leader, called on his countrymen to complete the reconstruction of their society.

What hope for Russia?

In his New Year message, Mr Yeltsin made no mention of the economic crisis in August that brought the country to the brink of collapse.

Boris Yeltsin: Difficult year for us all

"What can I say?'' he said. ''The year was difficult for the country, for many of you, and for me, too. But New Year's Eve is always about new hopes, new dreams, new plans."

Mr Yeltsin called on Russians to meet 1999 with optimism and pride and hoped they would always feel the "dignity and greatness" of their country.

But the BBC Moscow correspondent says that, apart from hopes and dreams, Mr Yeltsin had very little to offer his demoralised people for 1999.

However he appeared to have recovered from his latest illness, one of several he suffered during the year, prompting calls for his resignation.

The battle against apartheid's legacies

Mr Mandela urged South Africans to continue fighting poverty and corruption, legacies of the apartheid decades, in a spirit of shared responsibility.

Mr Mandela urges South Africans to work together

He said 1998 had shown how much could be achieved by working together.

Mr Mandela, 80, will step down after national elections this year, when Deputy President Thabo Mbeki is expected to succeed him.

He also warned that the polls - the country's second democratic vote since 1994 - should not divide the country.

A robust church

The Pope, delivering his year-end thanksgiving in Rome, looked ahead to the millennium.

The Pope praying for a robust church in 1999

"In a year's time, we will already be in the holy year and numerous pilgrims will be starting to arrive from every corner of the Earth," he said.

"I wish from my heart that they will be welcomed by a church alive and rich in religious fervour; a church generous and sensible toward the needs of mankind, especially the poor and those in need."

Focus on economy

In Japan, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi was focusing on the economy.

He said he was confident the country would return to positive growth after a disasterous year which has seen financial institutions brought to their knees.

Mr Obuchi said Japan's economic revival was important to the world at large and to Asia in particular.

China reform

Chinese President Jiang Zemin vowed to step up economic reforms and push forward plans to modernise the economy in 1999.

In his New Year address to the nation, he praised the last 12 months of development.

But he also called for stronger efforts to upgrade China's antiquated state enterprises and help those left behind in the country's rush from central planning to a market economy.

"In the new year, we will continue to deepen reform and expand opening," he said, adding China would "resolutely resolve any difficulties or problems encountered in the development process".

Hope for peace

In Dublin, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern spoke of the Good Friday agreement for Northern Ireland and looked forward to peace.