Baghdad nightlife revival

The solar-powered streetlights in central Baghdad flicker on shortly after sunset, illuminating the darkness that once brought fear to the capital.

These days, sundown is a reason to celebrate. Cars jam Karrada street, where fashionable young Baghdadis prowl for members of the opposite sex. Families bustle into clothing shops, restaurants and teahouses. Liberal-minded youth seek out a handful of nightclubs and bars scattered around the city.