Police sealed off a 100-block area in central Washington for President George W. Bush's inauguration on Thursday, turning much of the usually bustling centre of the US capital into a ghost town of deserted streets and barricades. With all traffic except official security and police cars barred from area, one cab driver said it felt more like a quiet Sunday than a weekday.
Buses were parked across streets to close off whole blocks and metal detectors were set up near the White House and inaugural route to check those entering the restricted area.
Thousands of dignitaries packed into seating around the Capitol building, site of the swearing-in, and organisers expected about 100,000 people, mainly Bush supporters, along the parade route from there to the White House.
Inaugural spectators packed the metro system, where fur coats and Texan-style cowboy hats were a more common sight than the usual dark suits more commonly worn by Washington's power elite.
But most central streets were eerily quiet.
Few businesses or stores were open, and office workers trickling into the restricted area were asking one another where to find coffee or open stores.
"It's like a deserted island. But it's good because they're trying to keep us safe," said Deborah Stewart, a security officer at the Inter-American Development Bank.
Many companies told staff to stay at home and treat the day as a federal holiday.
"There's no one working today, there's no one here," said a security guard smoking a cigarette outside one building.
Myong Cho, a convenience store owner who set up a stand outside to sell souvenir buttons, said customers were calling to see if the store was open.
"It seems a lot different than four years ago," said Cho, standing with his wife as they set up the souvenir stand. "The streets are all closed. Last time we could drive in, this time we had to take Metro."
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