Millions of people around the world shrugged off terrorism fears and began ushering in the New Year, but the killing of at least four people in a Baghdad bombing provided a stark reminder of the lurking threat of attacks. Overseen by 3,000 police with Britain on country-wide alert against potential terror attacks, up to 100,000 revellers were expected to flock into central London to hear Big Ben ring in 2004. Pope John Paul II, fighting against the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, called for world peace in a thanksgiving ceremony at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. “Mary, queen of peace, bring us days of peace for the city of Rome, for Italy, for Europe and for the whole world,” the 83 year-old pontiff said. Authorities in Rome ordered reinforced security around the Vatican, and in Russia around 300,000 police were out on the streets of major cities amid fears Chechen rebels could use the occasion as an opportunity for bomb attacks. Full Story
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