It must be a gate of peace East German Prime Minister Hans Modrow

Both leaders, flanked by their mayors, shook hands in a moment which signalled the first time a West German leader has officially entered East Berlin.

Delighted crowds popped bottles of champagne, hugged and kissed and waved flags of a united Germany.

Within minutes the gates had opened and thousands of people flooded through from either side of the city.

Hundreds more scrambled on to the top of the wall in jubilation chanting "Deutschland", "Deutschland".

Mr Modrow made an impassioned speech before an audience of millions, broadcast live on television to East and West Germans.

Cold war symbol

He first paid tribute to Romanians where dictator Nicolae Ceausescu has been overthrown.

"The Brandenburg Gate is not just one of many," he said.

"The burning stench of war must never be smelled here. It must be a gate of peace."

His words were almost drowned out by cheers of "Helmut!","Helmut!"

Dr Kohl responded to the people by declaring it the "most important moment of my life".

The decision to open the gate was taken on Tuesday in Dresden by Dr Kohl and Mr Modrow during their first meeting.

The 200-year-old gate was built as a monument to Prussian power and it embodied German unity until Hitler's defeat at the end of the Second World War.

It subsequently became one of the most potent symbols of Cold War division of Germany and of Europe.

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