Some 1.8 million Ethiopians would die due to HIV/AIDS in 2008 if the current trend continues, an official report said Wednesday.

"Ethiopia has lost 900,000 of its population in 2003 due to HIV/ AIDS and this is projected to reach 1,800,000 in 2008 if the present trend continues," said the report, which is titled " Ethiopia HIV/AIDS Emergency Plan."

According to the document, "groups engaged in high-risk behavior or at risk in Ethiopia are the same with other countries," including transport workers and other mobile men, commercial sex workers, men with disposable incomes, internally displaced people, in and out-of-school youth, university students and members of the police and military.

Large-scale military demobilization in 2002-2003, following the cessation of hostilities with Eritrea, resulted in approximately 75, 000 soldiers being demobilized and returns home.

Following this, the document said, infection rate for military personnel is estimated about 6 percent in front line position along the boarder with Eritrea. It increases to 9 percent behind the front line.

According to government statistics, some 1.5 million Ethiopians are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, while close to 1 million children have been orphaned by the disease. About 5,000 new infections are recorded weekly.