By Mussab Al-Khairalla BAGHDAD, April 4 (Reuters) - Baghdad's once largely deserted theme parks and other attractions are showing signs of life as Iraqis, encouraged by a drop in sectarian murders and bombings in the capital, enjoy some much-needed entertainment. The government, which has hailed the early gains of a new U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown in Baghdad, felt confident enough on Tuesday to reduce the hours of a nightly curfew, which had forced many businesses and restaurants to shut early. Although many residents in the city of seven million people are still wary to go out for entertainment, some have been venturing back to Rusafa Amusement Park -- Baghdad's largest -- to take a break from violence and a lack of basic services. "We were a little worried before we came," said Riyam Baqir, who had queued up with her friends to ride the Gravity Rotor, which spins thrill-seekers around inside a cylindrical room, plastering them to the walls. "But thankfully there are a lot of people here and we can briefly forget about the violent world outside the park and enjoy ourselves today." Staff at the 40-year-old park said visitor numbers were increasing, reaching several thousand a day. But they said all it takes is a big car bomb to keep people away. On one day this week, students, youngsters and families enjoyed rides such as the Corkscrew Rollercoaster, the Ghost Train and bumper cars. Abbas Khudhier operates the stomach-twisting Pirates Ship ride. He says a drop in daily sectarian death squad killings during the seven-week security plan had tripled his customers. He recalled how bad things became when militants linked to al Qaeda blew up a holy Shi'ite shrine in the town of Samarra a year ago, an act that unleashed a wave of sectarian violence that has killed tens of thousands of Iraqis. "After the Samarra bombing we went through our toughest year. The park was like a ghost town," he said as a young couple moved through his turnstile. "I can see people are really enjoying themselves now." EATING OUT AGAIN Customers are also trickling back to restaurants. Mukhlis Abdullah, the owner of central Baghdad's "Crispy" restaurant, which offers an array of Western, Indian, Chinese and local dishes, says profits in the first quarter of this year exceeded half his profits from last year. "More diners have come here since the (security) plan began in February, but people are still nervous and one large bomb scares them away again," he said. "When the people hear the government has eased the curfew, it will give them more confidence." At Baghdad's zoo, families and youngsters have begun returning, especially at weekends, to look at animals such as baboons, lions, bears and cheetahs. Guards at the front gate body search everyone to try to prevent suicide bombings. Qeys Wafeeq said he had brought his son Ahmed to the zoo to counter the 3-year-old's boredom at home. "I come here every week because my son loves this place," he said, carrying an excited Ahmed who was pointing at a caged wolf. Wafeeq said more people were coming to the zoo these days. "I feel bad that he is being raised in these terrible conditions, and the zoo is the only thing he can enjoy," he said. "He doesn't get enough of it. Every time he wakes up he wants to go and see the lions and tigers again."
