Mortar shelling at Damascus fair casts pall on peace hopes

Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-20 20:00:43|Editor: Song Lifang
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DAMASCUS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and four others wounded on Sunday when a mortar shell slammed the fairgrounds in the capital Damascus, where a premier trade fair is being held, a well-informed source told Xinhua.

The mortar shell landed at the inner gate of the fairgrounds south of the capital Damascus near the international road of the airport, the source said, on condition of anonymity.

A paramedic who helped in transporting the wounded said casualties reached around 14.

The wounded were transported to a hospital in Jaramana area near the fairgrounds, and later to the Mujtahid hospital in Damascus. He said all of the victims were civilians.

The attack on Sunday highlighted the security instability near the capital.

Last week, the Syrian government held the International Damascus Fair, the country's famous trade fair, for the first time since 2011.

The state media said that companies from 43 countries were taking part in the fair.

The government aimed to send a message that the country's economy is being revived with the victory of the Syrian army on the ground.

It's worth noting that the turnout at the Damascus fair was huge and unexpected, as on Aug.18 around 800,000 people thronged the fairground, causing suffocation in traffic on the airport road.

The mortar shell, fired by rebels in eastern Damascus, apparently aimed to send a message that the rebels are still capable of undermining the security in the capital, even though large parts of eastern Ghouta have recently been included in the de-escalation zones' deal.

Only al-Qaida-linked militants have been excluded, and although no party has claimed responsibility for the attack, it's most likely fired by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, otherwise known as the Levant Liberation Committee.

The ten-day fair was seen by the residents of Damascus as the beginning of the return of normalcy to their lives, as in pre-war times the Damascus fair used to be a high-profile event.

Established in 1954, the fair's last edition was held in 2011, the first year of the Syrian war.

In later years, the fair was suspended because of the battles, particularly those around the fairgrounds in southeastern rim of Damascus.

The government has made massive preparations and enhancement in the capital for the event, which is seen by officials as a sign of the economic recovery of Syria.

The fair showcases all kinds of products, including Syria-assembled cars, electronics, food items, and construction gears. Syria-based foreign embassies also have pavilions in the fair.

Experts believe that the fair comes at a time when the political deals for Syria seem near, which pushes the government as well as local and foreign companies to start planning investments.

When the war is over, Syria is expected to be the main attraction of foreign companies, and governments, particularly those interested in the reconstruction process.

Foreign investments will also play a role in shoring up the sluggish economy in Syria, which took a heavy beating during the war.

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