Under tight security, U.S. greets new year

NEW YORK - Nearly 1-million revelers rang in 2004 with the dropping of the traditional New Year's Eve ball in Times Square - a joyous, confetti-filled bash that took place under heavy guard.

With snipers on rooftops and helicopters patrolling overhead, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and guest of honor, former Iraq prisoner of war Shoshana Johnson, pressed a small globe, sending the 1,070-pound crystal ball on a 60-second drop that culminated at the stroke of midnight.

Nevertheless, organizers of the Times Square party estimated that nearly 1-million people had gathered for the celebration.

"You can't let them spoil the party, right?" said Mike Riley of Huntsville, Ala., who was among the first to show up in Times Square on Wednesday morning.

"People can take comfort that anything and everything that can be done is being done," said FBI spokesman Todd Palmer.

Las Vegas police said sharpshooters would be posted on hotel-casino roofs, concrete barricades would close off certain routes and backpacks and bags would be searched.

The Federal Aviation Administration banned flights, except for scheduled commercial flights, over Manhattan and Las Vegas during the celebrations.

Crowds began gathering early Wednesday in Pasadena, Calif., for today's 115th annual Tournament of Roses Parade amid unprecedented security. Paradegoers staked out spots for a curbside sleepover as law enforcement officers - many of them undercover - fanned out along the route.

Officials previously canceled a street party in downtown Los Angeles, citing security concerns. In raising the nation's terrorist threat level, federal officials said al-Qaida might be planning a major attack on large gatherings during the holiday season.

Elsewhere, terrorism fears put nary a dent in the festivities.

In New Orleans, 40,000 to 50,000 people were expected to watch the lowering of a giant, grinning papier mache baby in the French Quarter at midnight.

Around the world, violence in the Iraqi capital and an underlying threat of terrorism in Britain and Israel provided a grim counterpoint to the high spirits greeting 2004.

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.

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.

But in London, the weather held off and thousands enjoyed a brief but spectacular fireworks show at the London Eye. The huge sightseeing wheel at the edge of the River Thames became a necklace of light against the black sky and then exploded with rockets and multicolored fireworks as the crowd cheered.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright