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Ringing in 2008 in style

PARIS: A million revellers cheered fireworks in Sydney. Summer Olympics organisers hosted dance and music in Beijing. And rare celebrations resounded in war-torn Baghdad.

Across the globe, people gathered for parties, shot off fireworks and held out hopes for a peaceful and prosperous 2008.

But reminders of violence were apparent as security was tightened in many nations. Fireworks were cancelled in downtown Brussels, where police last week detained 14 people suspected of plotting to help an accused Al-Qaeda man break out of jail.

Festivities in Paris centred on the Champs-Elysees avenue and the Eiffel Tower. — AP

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