Sydney kicks off global New Year celebrations

SYDNEY: More than one million people lined Sydney Harbour to witness a spectacular fireworks display as worldwide celebrations to ring in the New Year began in the Asia-Pacific region.   

Massive bursts of red and green light filled the warm night air as the clock ticked past midnight in Australia's largest city, with revellers crammed into prime pieces of parkland to catch a glimpse of the dazzling show.   

The giant steel archway of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was again the centrepiece of the display, with a giant neon hourglass illustrating the theme of time passing. 

More than 1,700 police patrolled the city -- a magnet for international tourists and party-goers -- but they reported no trouble during the celebrations. 

As revellers in Sydney enjoyed the first few minutes of 2008, crowds gathered in other major cities across the region late Monday for their turn to say goodbye to 2007. 

In Bangkok, security was beefed up after bomb blasts in the Thai capital killed three people on December 31 last year, but police reassured the more than 10,000 people expected on the streets, saying there were no new threats. 

Despite chilly temperatures in Taiwan, an estimated crowd of 600,000 was expected to flock to the area around Taipei 101, the world's tallest skyscraper, to usher in the New Year, organisers said.   

In China, -- set to host the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing -- President Hu Jintao called for world peace and development in his New Year address broadcast Monday, state media said. 

"We sincerely hope people of all nations live under the same blue sky freely, equally, harmoniously and happily, and enjoy the achievements in peace and development of the humankind," Hu said, according to Xinhua news agency. 

In Singapore, 160,000 people were expected to crowd the waterfront in the city-state to watch an eight-minute fireworks show, according to The Straits Times newspaper. 

Predominantly Muslim Malaysia was marking the last day of its celebrations of 50 years of independence and the start of the New Year with countdown concerts and another blazing fireworks display.   

Police said at least 20,000 Malaysians, including Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, were expected to converge on the Kuala Lumpur City Centre park, where the iconic Petronas Twin Towers are located, and Independence Square.   

In Japan, where New Year is one of the most important family holidays, festivities have been dampened by poor weather, with an estimated 7,300 people stranded at airports. 

Seventy-one flights to or from the country's northern coast facing the Sea of Japan (East Sea) were cancelled on Monday due to heavy snowfall and strong winds. 

In Europe, the British government urged revellers not to drink to excess and newspapers predicted a post-midnight surge in frisky behaviour. 

More than 350,000 people were expected to pack the banks of the River Thames in London to watch a mammoth fireworks display, while Edinburgh was to host its traditional giant Hogmanay knees-up.   

But in Belgium, officials cancelled the traditional fireworks show in Brussels as the country went on maximum alert over possible terror threats. 

Hundreds of thousands of partygoers were also expected in New York's Times Square to usher in a year that will see a new president elected. 

Away from the fun and frolics, the tiny Mediterranean islands of Cyprus and Malta prepared to bid farewell to their national currencies -- Cyprus pounds and Maltese liri -- ahead of their entry into the eurozone on January 1.