aghdad residents got the surprise of their lives when they woke up to the sight of snow falling on Friday morning.

The snowfall comes a welcome respite to Iraqis who have experienced mostly war in recent years. Thus many consider the phenomenon as a symbol of peace and hope for their country.

In mountainous Kurdish areas off northern Iraq, snow is fairly common, but not in the capital Baghdad. Even senior residents could not recall when was the last time snow fell in their area. But in recent days, Baghdad has witnessed freezing temperatures.