In pictures: New Year celebrations

New Year celebrations begin across East Asia, despite tight security in the wake of the Bali nightclub bombings.

Sydney Harbour Bridge erupted in a huge fireworks display as midnight struck

Residents in the Australian city partied into the night

The Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand, also exploded in a flurry of fireworks

Huge crowds packed the centre of Beijing, China, for the celebrations

There was applause outside the Zojoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Japan, as the New Year was ushered in

Skydivers leapt from the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur in 2002 - and landed in 2003

US soldiers stationed in Kuwait put war fears aside

Traditional effigies were carried through the streets of Jakarta