THOUSANDS FLOCKING MT DEMPO AREA FOR TURN OF YEAR

Pagaralam, S Sumatra, Dec 31 (ANTARA) - Thousands of people from various areas in South Sumatra and the southern parts of Sumatra, started flocking the Mt Dempo tourist destination to celebrate the turn of the year to 2010.

On Thursday beginning at 5 a.m local time long rows of cars and motorcycles were passing the entrance to Mt Gunung.

People started assembling at Pagaralam from Bengkulu, Jambi, Lampung including S Sumatra, while hundreds of mountain climbers have also arrived at the temporary meeting point at Kampung I near the tea factory of PTPN VII.

Pagaralam Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Abdul Soleh said in anticipation of security disturbances and securing the safety of the visitors at Pagaralam, the police has prepared 88 security officers and set up three security posts.

The three locations as centers of the celebrations are the tourist spot at Lematang, the market place, and Mt. Dempo tourist spot.