New York marks 2002 with tribute to terror victims

A crystal ball honouring victims of the World Trade Centre attack dropped in Times Square at midnight.

Red, white and blue confetti fell as an estimated crowd of 500,000 turned out for the biggest New York City party since the September 11 attacks.

It was the final New Year's celebration as mayor for Rudolph Giuliani. He swore in his successor, Michael Bloomberg.

Revellers lined up at security checkpoints to stake out spots for the annual dropping of the Waterford crystal ball at the stroke of midnight.

Among them was Javier Romero, 21, who said participating in the celebration was part of getting back to normal after the terrorist attacks. "It's kind of my part of saying I'm not afraid," he said.

The crowd fell silent when the night's official festivities began at 6pm as seven-year-old Logan Miller, who lost his uncle in the attacks, rang a bell on stage at Times Square in a ceremony to honour the September 11 victims.

Bells were simultaneously rung at churches and synagogues as the ball was hoisted into position.

A giant screen over Times Square displayed an image of a fluttering US flag and listed every police precinct, firehouse, port authority unit, airline and nation that lost people in the attacks.

The crowd - about the same size as last year - rang in the New Year, as partygoers have done in Times Square since 1904.

Smaller celebrations were planned across the country, from fireworks in Philadelphia and Seattle to a party at an Anchorage, Alaska bar featuring a Canadian rock band that plays The Star-Spangled Banner.