New York: Hundreds of thousands of revellers rang in the New Year in New York's Times Square, amid tight security and special tributes to those who brought relief to the hurricane-devastated city of New Orleans.
Braving freezing temperatures and early evening sleet, close to one million people crammed into the "crossroads of the world" for the traditional centrepiece of New Year celebrations across the US.
The square erupted in song, cheers and a cloud of confetti after the crowd counted down the last seconds of the year watching the traditional crystal ball make its midnight descent to illuminate the giant numerals 2006.
The half-tonne ball, decorated with more than 500 crystal triangles was released by New Orleans jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis -- the most famous face in a guest of honour roster comprising workers from New York city agencies who responded to the Katrina disaster.
Marsalis organised a highly successful fundraising concert in the wake of the hurricane, which slammed into the US Gulf Coast on August 29 killing more than 1,300 people.
Helping him press the button that began the crystal ball's descent were members of the New York fire and police department.
Revellers keen to get a good vantage point had begun arriving in Times Square.
More than 1,700 Police Academy graduates were deployed to boost an already heavy police presence that included special helicopter patrols, counter-terrorism teams mixing with the crowds and bomb-sniffing dogs.
Backpacks were banned from the area and anyone entering the party zone had to pass through a metal detector.
"There are no specific threats," stressed Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. "Nothing from the national intelligence community that would indicate a threat to New York City."
New York has remained on a heightened terror alert ever since the September 11, 2001 attacks and major events such as the New Year's celebrations are routinely accompanied by a major security operation.
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