Normally exuberant New Year celebrations were tempered by thoughts for victims of south Asia's tsunami as several major cities canceled parties and Australia led a global minutedfsilence.

Sydney, the first major city to start New Year celebrations, went ahead with its annual News Year's Eve fireworks displays Friday, but revellers who flocked to the harbourside city center were urged to remember the nearly 124,000 people who died.

The Asian disaster cast a long shadow over global festivities, particularly in Europe.

Sweden, Norway, Finland and Germany planned to fiy flags at half-mast tostart 2005 as a markof respect

Paris put black mourning crepe on the trees lining the Champs Elysees to pay homage to the victims.A number of Italian cities abandoned plans for major New Year's Eve parties, opting to send the money saved to charities helping the victims.

Around the world, party plans were dropped or toned down. In Sri Lanka, the plush Hilton Colombo hotel cancelled an end-of-year dance. Thailand called off outdoor celebrations in memory of its 4,500 victims and Malaysia decided against official festivities.

In Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called for muted New Year celebrations and a fireworks display over the Marina Bay area was canceled.