Indonesia protests mar start of Miss World

The 63rd Miss World beauty pageant has opened in Indonesia after protests by Muslim hardliners confined the event to the predominantly Hindu resort island of Bali.

The opening ceremony, which was televised to 186 countries, featured Bali’s Kecak Dance and a parade of all 131 contestants.

Days of protests by Muslim groups and the rejection of the contest by a leading clerics’ organisation had forced the government to move the Sept 28 final round to Bali. The pageant was initially set to be held in Sentul, on the outskirts of the capital, Jakarta.