Former Philippine President to receive knee surgery in HK

Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada speaks to reporters at International Airport in Manila, capital of the Philippines on Dec. 27, 2004. Estrada left for Hong Kong on Monday, accompanied by his wife, to receive a knee surgery in Hong Kong, China. The Philippine court in charge of his trial agreed to let Estrada to leave the country for humanitarian reasons.

Supporters of Shiite party protest the suicide car bombing

Supporters of Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, head of the most powerful Shiite party, protest the blast event while holding portraits of Hakim outside the scene of a suicide car bombing attack in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, on Dec. 27, 2004. A car bomb exploded outside the headquarters of the leading Iraqi Shiite Muslim party in the south of the Iraqi capital on Monday, killing 15 people and wounding over 60 others. Hakim survived the attack unscathed.

Chengdu students support panda to be mascot for the Beijing Olympic Games

Students in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, use patches of cloths to form a giant panda pattern on December 27, 2004. Some 2,800 students took part in the event in support of selecting giant panda as the mascot for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Israel freed 159 Palestinian prisoners

A released Palestinian prisoner (R) hugs his friend in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Dec. 27, 2004. Israel freed 159 Palestinian prisoners on Monday to express its support to Palestine's general election to be held on Jan. 9, 2005.

Winter discount sales begins in London

Dressed up as a clown, a shop assistant tries to attract customers to his shop in London, Britain, Dec. 26, 2004. Stores on major business streets in London cut prices in a hope to attract more customers as the traditional winter discount sales period began on the second day of the Christmas holidays.

"Gull king" in Kunming

A red-beaked gull picks food from the mouth of "gull king" Gu Bing, a gardener of the Kunming World Exposition Garden, at the garden in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, on Dec. 26, 2004. Gu Bing gained his reputation of "gull king" for his intimacy with red-beaked gulls in the garden. He gives food and care to red-beaked gulls in the garden during his working hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for four consecutive years.

Suicide car bombing attack in Baghdad

A security man of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq stands guard at the scene of a suicide car bombing attack in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, on Dec. 27, 2004. A car bomb exploded outside the headquarters of the leading Iraqi Shiite Muslim party in the south of the Iraqi capital on Monday, killing 15 people and wounding over 60 others. Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, head of the most powerful Shiite party, survived the attack unscathed.

Yushchenko celebrates vitory in Ukraine's vote

Ukrainian opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko (C) speaks during a celebration rally at the Independence Square in Kiev, Dec. 27, 2004. Yushchenko has gained a lead by winning 56.33 percent of half of the votes that have been counted in the rerun presidential vote, according to the latest results announced on Monday by the Ukrainian Central Election Commission.

Death toll of tsunamis tops 22, 000

A woman looks for her missing relative among the bodies of Tsunami victims that piled in the central square of Banda Aceh, capital city of Indonesia's Aceh province Dec. 27, 2004. The death toll in a tidal wave triggered by an earthquake that slammed into coasts of several south and Southeast Asian countries topped 22,000 Monday.

Tang Jiaxuan kicks off visit in Palestine

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan (front R) and Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, walk to a meeting hall in the West Bank city Ramallah, Dec. 27, 2004. Tang Jiaxuan arrived in Palestine for a visit Monday.