Free condoms from South Africa were snapped up like hot cakes at the 15th International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, South Africa's Health Department said on Thursday.

Sibani Mngadi, spokesman for the department, said that it had provided 10,000 of the newly-branded "Choice" condoms for their exhibition at the conference, but halfway through the event these had all disappeared.

"Choice condoms were the first material to run out," he said.

Promoting condom use as an appropriate approach to HIV/AIDS had been a "hot topic" at the conference, said Mngadi. Many countries argue against it, and in the countries including Thailand there are no free condoms for the general public.

The spokesman said that South Africa, which now has some 5.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS and is among the hardest hit countries, encouraged abstinence and faithfulness, but "for those who cannot do the two, condoms should be made available."

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang launched the "Choice" condoms in South Africa a few weeks ago in an attempt to make the mass-produced prophylactics more attractive to the young.

"Young South Africans recognized 'Choice' for its funky, punchy and straightforward attitude," she said at the time.

The packaging seems to have been a hit with all nationalities to the conference, though Mngadi noted that other condoms available at the conference came in vending machines and had to be paid for.

Thousands of international delegates had visited the South African exhibition stand, which had also become a meeting place for South African officials, researchers, activists, and journalists at the conference.

Besides the condoms and information on South Africa's HIV/AIDS program, paper bags and lollipops with AIDS messages on them were also on offer, Mngadi said.