Afghanistan's first fun park

Excitement builds in the queue forming behind the barbed-wire security fence outside Afghanistan's first amusement park as children in bright clothes clutch their parents' hands and hop from foot to foot in anticipation of the pleasures waiting behind the high concrete blast walls.

For the thousands of families who have visited Kabul's City Park since it opened during a national religious holiday weekend in October, it is a rare escape from lives blighted by war, death and misery.

Squealing children hardly know where to look as they race through the gates. Inside, they find large friendly characters that look almost, but not quite, like Minnie Mouse and Tom the cat from Tom and Jerry — all dancing together and dispensing hugs. (AP)

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