May Day round the world includes rain on a parade

From Iran to Japan, boycotts, protests, and rallies overshadowed May Day celebrations on Thursday. In Iran, Islamic militants hoisted banners outside buildings in various cities where the US hostages are being held and shouted anti-American slogans. In Moscow, the US ambassador to the Soviet Union and most of NATO's envoys skipped Moscow's premier May Day parade to protest the Kremlin's invasion of Afghanistan.

In Havana, a rally was scheduled to denounce the Cuban refugees and the United States. More than 1 million people were expected to attend the rally, to be capped with an address by President Fidel Castro.

In Japan, nearly 6 million workers, many wearing red armbands, took part in rallies and called for an end to 25 years of conservative rule.