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Copyright 2005 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
December 25, 2005
HEADLINE:
A look at Christmas events worldwide
Body:
Christmas-related events around the world:
-Bethlehem, West Bank: Thousands of tourists and pilgrims gathered
in Bethlehem, Jesus' historic birthplace, in festivities that
capped the most peaceful year since the outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian
fighting in September 2000.
-Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI offered a Christmas prayer for
peace in the Holy Land and made a special mention of children,
including the unborn, as he led his first midnight Mass in St.
Peter's Basilica. "On this night, when we look toward Bethlehem,
let us pray in a special way for the birthplace of our Redeemer
and for the men and women who live and suffer there," he
said.
-Baghdad, Iraq: For members of the 126th Armor Battalion, there
was holly on the mess hall tables and a miniature Christmas tree
in the barracks. The military was planning a Christmas Day dinner
of turkey and ham. "These guys are calling me a Grinch because
I'm not in the Christmas spirit. My mind-set is, 'We're here to
do a job,'" said Lt. Micah Bell, 29, from Valparaiso, Ind.
-Britain: Britain's Archbishop of Canterbury used his annual
Christmas sermon to praise two families who showed forgiveness
to violent criminals who attacked their loved ones, saying they
demonstrate "that miraculous love is possible."
-United States: President Bush called nine U.S. service members
deployed from Japan to the Persian Gulf to recognize their service
to the nation and wish them holiday cheer.
-Venezuela: President Hugo Chavez praised Jesus Christ as a revolutionary
hero during a Christmas Eve visit to a homeless shelter. "For
me, Christmas is Christ. The rebel Christ, the revolutionary Christ,
the socialist Christ," he said during a televised speech
from the shelter.
-Indonesia: Bomb squads checked churches and hotel security guards
in Santa Claus costumes searched cars after police warned that
al-Qaida-linked militants might be plotting Christmas terror attacks
in this predominantly Muslim nation. Christmas Eve services and
other festivities proceeded without incident.
-Bangladesh: Bangladesh, also a predominantly Muslim nation,
tightened security at churches across the country, following a
recent spate of deadly bombings.
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