Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Asia Marks Christmas Punctuated with Terror Warnings, Natural
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Disasters
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=157BAD0:A6F02AD83191E1600408940D4976DBC79574F7DCC14957C0 Millions celebrate
Christmas despite annual warnings of possible terror attacks and
flooding, storms in some areas Millions of Christians in Asia
celebrated Christmas in peace despite what have become annual warnings
of possible terror attacks. Flooding and storms have also dampened the
holidays for some. VOA's Heda Bayron has more from Hong Kong.

Thousands of police have been deployed to secure Christian churches in
Indonesia.

Jakarta's Catholic Cathedral and other churches were packed for
Christmas mass even as Western governments warned all week of possible
bombings targeting churches during the holidays.

Masses were held without incident.

Predominantly Muslim Indonesia has taken annual precautions since 2000
when it suffered a series of church bombings during Christmas that
killed 19 people.







Pakistani Christian women attend a Christmas mass in Islamabad, 25
Dec. 2006In Pakistan Monday, the U.S. Embassy warned of possible
attacks against American interests, which could include car bombs, on
or about December 25.

Security was also heightened in Christian-majority Philippines as
millions jammed churches to attend traditional Christmas Eve masses.

In the typhoon-ravaged central Philippines, residents remembered loved
ones who died in landslides earlier this month.

A woman who lost her husband in a landslide, said she would still
celebrate Christmas with her two children.

Heavy flooding marred the holidays for Christians on Indonesia's
Sumatra Island. Thousands of people were being evacuated Monday after
floods, triggered by heavy rains, engulfed villages. Scores of people
have been killed and more than 100,000 have fled their homes.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says rescue and relief systems are
at work to respond to the problem.

The floods also hit Aceh province, which is still recovering from the
December 2004 tsunami that killed some 170,000 people there.

In Hong Kong, Christmas Eve took on a political tone.

Scores held a candlelight protest against the government's harbor
front reclamation project.

The project involved tearing down two Hong Kong landmarks - the Star
Ferry Pier and the Queen's Pier.