Revellers around the world prepared to ring in 2006 on Saturday with fireworks and fanfare, saying goodbye to a year scarred by violence and natural disasters.

Security was tight ahead of New Year's festivities in major cities worldwide, with events in Auckland and Sydney due to kick off a night of celebrations from Asia to the Americas.

Tens of thousands were expected to crowd the harborfront area near Sydney's landmark Opera House to get the best view of the spectacular fireworks display at midnight (1300 GMT).

Some 1,700 police were patrolling streets and beaches in Australia's largest city to prevent any outbreaks of violence, following suburban race riots earlier this month that pitted whites against Arab-Australians.

Street parties and glittery displays were planned across Asia and the Pacific, with Hong Kong boasting a massive light and sound show

including fireworks to be set off from 20 buildings around its famed Victoria Harbor.

In the Chinese capital Beijing, bells and drums were to be sounded 108 times at midnight (1600 GMT) to mark an auspicious start to the year, signifying the elimination of worldly troubles in accordance with Buddhist tradition.

Authorities in Indonesia -already on high alert for possible attacks by Islamic extremists during the New Year period -fanned out in restive Central Sulawesi province after a bombing in a crowded market Saturday left seven dead.

The festive mood across much of the region contrasted with last year, when prayer vigils and fundraising events replaced jubilant blow-out bashes in the wake of the devastating December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

As Asia struggled to rebuild in 2005 after the giant waves killed more than 220,000 people, natural disaster sent it reeling again this October, when a massive earth-

quake killed at least 74,000 people in Pakistan and India.

The continent was also to usher in 2006 in the shadow of the bird flu crisis, with outbreaks and deaths across Asian countries in 2005.

In the Philippines, hospitals braced for a spate of casualties as revellers traditionally set off firecrackers and fire guns into the air at midnight. Two people died and more than 130 were injured by firecracker incidents in the run-up.

Not everyone was preparing to greet the New Year with mass parties -- in Pakistan fundamentalist groups oppose street revelry as contrary to Islamic norms and zealots have been known to attack those who defy their edict.

In Europe, six months after Britain fell victim to apparent Islamist suicide bombers, with 52 people killed plus the attackers, Prime Minister Tony Blair said the country should not waver in the fight against terrorism.