Damascus residents optimistic

On the streets of Damascus, a US-Russian deal on Syria's chemical weapons has brought both relief and hope that an end may be in sight for the country's devastating 30-month conflict.

On Sunday, as children's summer holidays drew to an end, the atmosphere was relaxed at the Garden of Liberty primary school in the upscale district of Abu Rummaneh.

"I'm not worried for the kids anymore. The tension has eased as war is no longer imminent. Life has gone back to normal," said school principal Hala Tabaa. Khulud al-Masri, a mother of two daughters, said her family is now "more relaxed".

"May God calm everyone's spirits and harm no one. But the sound of the bombings still scares my two daughters," Masri said, as her girls, aged 5 and 3, played on swings.

Muna Ibo said she hopes the agreement will boost business at her beauty salon.

"We have more hope now, after this agreement. We might be able to see an end to terrorism and the troubles that we've had no part in creating," said Ibo.

Ibo opened up her salon, Beautiful World, six weeks ago, she said, despite the conflict that has raged in her country for 30 months and killed more than 110,000 people.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 09/16/2013 page12)