Romance suffers from Iraq violence

BAGHDAD, Feb 14 (Reuters) Its Valentine's day, a day Iraqi florist Abu Abdullah impatiently waits for every year.

But this year, romance is certainly not in the air.

Abu Abdullah moans couples in the war-torn capital are in no mood for love amid the mortars, bombs and bullets.

''This year the number of customers is much less than last year.

There is no demand because of the security situation,'' he said today outside his small store in Baghdad's Karrada district.

''Money isn't an issue to customers, but the burden they face is the lack of security,'' he added, saying that just a year ago he had arranged rose petals on the pavement outside his store to attract customers. This year he had not bothered.

But even with the daily bombings and sectarian violence, some were not put off celebrating Valentine's day.

Ali Jamil, in his 40s, said celebrating the occasion with his wife gave him hope in times of extremity.

''Every year, for the past 25 years, I buy at least one red rose for my wife,'' a smiling Jamil said as he held a neatly wrapped fresh red rose in his hand.

''Everyone searches for a tiny ray of hope with optimism and forgiveness during this difficult situation,'' he said. ''It gives me a glimpse of hope that the coming days will be better than the previous ones.'' REUTERS KD KN2001