AFP, Paris
From New York to Baghdad to Sydney, New Year’s revelers welcomed 2008 with parties, fireworks and hopes for peace and prosperity.
But reminders of violence were apparent as security was tightened in many nations.
Fireworks were canceled in downtown Brussels, Belgium, where police detained 14 people Dec. 21 suspected of plotting to help an accused al-Qaida militant break out of jail.
Festivities in Paris centered on the famous Champs-Elysees avenue and the Eiffel Tower, where about 4,500 police and 140 rescue officials patrolled the streets. [Read more]