Tradition, Tension Usher In 2004

Most New Year's celebrations around the world have been peaceful - centuries of tradition against a backdrop of often tight security. But there were bombs in Baghdad and Indonesia; and fireworks caused a tragedy in the Philippines.

In central Baghdad, a car bomb ripped through a restaurant during a New Year's Eve party, killing five Iraqis and injuring 35, including at least two Americans and one Briton.

In Indonesia, a bomb hit a New Year's concert in Aceh province, where the government is blaming separatist rebels who have been waging a decades-long war for independence. The blast killed 10 people and wounded 45 others.

Merrymaking also turned deadly in the Philippine city of Lucena when fireworks started a fire in an old public market, killing at least 18 people and injuring two others.

Celebrations were happier in Australia, where Sydney's famous harbor was alight with colorful fireworks, and in New Zealand, where thousands crammed into a public square, dancing and waving glow sticks. Still, a tactical response team scoured the streets of Sydney, looking out for everything from drunken revelers to any possible security threat.

Pope John Paul II gave thanks for 2003 and prayed for world peace in 2004 during a vespers service at St. Peter's Basilica. His New Year's Mass Thursday will mark the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Peace.

In Israel, the threat of terrorism prompted even greater security efforts than usual. Police said Wednesday that reinforcements were patrolling night spots in Tel Aviv during celebrations, days after Israeli security officials warned of the possibility of a major New Year's terror attack at a public building or holy site.

In Paris, about 4,500 police officers and soldiers patrolled the city streets. The police presence was strong around the Champs-Elysees, the famous tree-lined boulevard in western Paris where festive crowds typically gather. No specific terrorist threat was announced.

The avenue shimmered with light as young North Africans holding up the Algerian flag danced atop concrete barriers, a group of Italians posed for pictures, and a young Danish couple bargained with a street vendor for two cans of beer.

"It's great so far," said Ben Jacobs, a U.S. college student from Northville, Mich. who was visiting the city with friends.

London's Metropolitan Police said there was a "high state of alert" but there were no specific terrorist threats for New Year's Eve.

For many in Britain, the weather appeared a more immediate threat to the festivities than terrorism.

The west coast city of Liverpool rescheduled its fireworks display to Friday because of forecasts of sleet, rain and gale force winds.

Traditionally, thousands flock to Trafalgar Square in central London to welcome the new year in an area offering little shelter from the elements. Thousands also gathered along the banks of the Thames to await a fireworks display.

In Scotland, where New Year's "Hogmany" revels are legendary, Scottish high spirits fought back against driving rain and high winds. But in the end, Edinburgh canceled its events because of the weather and concerns for public safety. About 100,000 people had been expected to gather in the city center for a street party, concert and fireworks.

In Berlin, thousands of New Year's revelers packed a 2-mile-wide area around the Brandenburg Gate, listening to music and watching fireworks.

In Athens, fireworks streaked over the 2,500-year-old Parthenon in New Year celebrations marking the final stage of preparations for the 2004 Olympic Games in August.

Thousands of Athenians of all ages crowded into a central square in front of parliament to watch a light show and performances from Greek and international artists.

In Afghanistan, American soldiers celebrated with karaoke, fireworks and a traditional ball drop before the midnight countdown.

Two-hundred-and-forty miles above the Earth, in the relative comfort of the International Space Station, a U.S.-Russian crew was marking New Year's with roast chicken and tea.

U.S. astronaut Michael Foale and his Russian crew mate, Alexander Kaleri, said in a video hookup Wednesday they would toast each other when the clock strikes midnight in London since the station's clock is set to Greenwich Mean Time.

In Japan, the prime minister's visit to a war shrine on New Year's Day riled Asian neighbors, while North Korea warned of a tough response if international efforts to end its nuclear program get too aggressive.

But Asian leaders also softened those martial overtones with calls for better times as 2004 dawned Thursday following a night of crackling fireworks and parties.

Thailand reported 451 traffic deaths during its New Year holiday that started Saturday, and attributed many of them to drunk driving. Last year's New Year death toll was 562.

Celebrations were happier in Australia, where colorful fireworks lit up Sydney's famous harbor, and in New Zealand, where thousands crammed a public square to dance and wave glow sticks.

China's President Hu Jintao promised lasting autonomy for Hong Kong in a New Year's Day address, even as activists there massed for a march Thursday to display their new "people power" - emboldened by a successful half-million-strong protest six months ago.

"It is an irreversible trend that the world wants peace, people want cooperation, nations want development and society wants advancement," Hu said.

Hu also called for staunch opposition to separatism, and was joined in that sentiment by Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who is waging a war against separatist rebels in Aceh. The Indonesian military blamed the rebels for the deadly New Year's blast in Aceh. They denied the allegation.

In Japan, Emperor Akihito - who holds no political power but plays an important symbolic role for Japanese - hoped for better days.

"I sincerely hope that this year will be a bright one for the people of Japan and the rest of the world," he said in an address.

Japan's prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, said peace was one of the things on his mind when he visited Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine honoring veterans - including convicted war criminals. Asian countries brutally occupied by the Japanese in the last century say the shrine glorifies Japan's militarist past.

"I went with various feelings, including wishes for Japan's peace and prosperity," Koizumi told reporters.

The visit could complicate Japan's efforts to join the United States, China, Russia and South Korea in getting North Korea into substantive talks on dismantling its nuclear program.

China expressed "strong dissatisfaction" over Koizumi's shrine visit.

North Korea reconfirmed its willingness to resolve the nuclear standoff peacefully, but warned it would get tough if the United States keeps up its hard line.

"We will always react with the toughest policy to the U.S. hardline policy of totally denying and threatening the dignified idea and system of our style," it said.

Crowds of Taiwanese gathered at sunrise Thursday in front of the Presidential Office for the annual raising of the flag.

Hong Kongers geared up for a New Year's Day march to demand speedier reforms toward the full democracy envisioned in the constitution negotiated for the territory when Britain handed it back to China in 1997.

Overnight, 20,000 Hong Kong residents rang in the New Year by paying homage to the recently deceased singer Anita Mui, one of the biggest stars on the Chinese pop music scene. Pop stars Joey Yung and Kelly Chen led a mass sing-along of Mui's greatest hits at Hong Kong's Times Square, as a giant screen flashed images of the late star.