By Nancy A. Youssef | McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Tuesday, November 20, 2007
BAGHDAD — Outside the Damascus Transport Co. in Baghdad's Salhiyah neighborhood Monday, a dozen or so people sat on their suitcases, looking tired and slightly confused as the bus that had brought them from Syria pulled out for its return run, practically empty.
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U.S. and Iraqi officials boast that the returning Iraqis are tangible proof that Baghdad's security situation is improving. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki said that 7,000 families had returned to the capital. Iraqi officials estimate that 46,000 Iraqis have returned to Iraq across the Syrian border, and government and some neighborhood leaders are pushing in television and newspaper interviews for residents to return.
Interviews with the bedraggled arrivals outside Damascus Transport found that their hopes for a peaceful life were real, though their decisions to make the trip back to Baghdad often were driven as much by the difficulties of life in Syria as by news that their old neighborhoods might be safe now.
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Iraqi and U.S. officials acknowledge that the situation is fragile. There are horror stories such as that told by Soad al Obeidi, 24, whose family returned a few weeks ago to Dora, one of Baghdad's most dangerous neighborhoods.
Last week, her husband's uncles, who'd come home at her father-in-law's urging, were shot dead as they hailed a taxi.
"One week before the incident, people had started to open their shops. But after the shooting, all the shops closed and no one reopened his shop again. They all feel afraid because they knew that the security situation was not improved at all," al Obeidi said. "And my father-in-law feels so guilty."
moreBaghdad
- Around 7 a.m., a roadside bomb exploded at Baladiyat neighborhood near the power supply transfers of the area injuring three people.
- Around 7.30 a.m., a car bomb exploded at Shariqa intersection in Bayaa neighborhood ( south west Baghdad ) killing two people and injuring 7 others.
- Around 8 a.m., gunmen assassinated Dr. Musa Ja’afar , the head of the Geological survey , killing one of his companions and injuring the other at Baratha mosque intersection in Uttaifiyah ( north Baghdad).
- Around 8 a.m., a random fire took place in Mansour neighborhood at Dragh district killing two people .
- Around 1 p.m., a roadside bomb targeted an American patrol at Baladiyat intersection in Al-Muhandiseen district injuring three civilians.
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