Region breathes a big sigh of relief as rains clear smog

Persistent rains have cleared the air across vast stretches of Southeast Asia that have choked for weeks on hazardous smoke from Indonesian fires, with officials and citizens expressing hope on Thursday that the crisis could soon end.

Parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore enjoyed the cleanest air in two months, while affected areas of the Philippines and Thailand also gained a respite from pollution that has sickened hundreds of thousands, disrupted air travel and fueled anger at Jakarta.

"We can see clouds again!" Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen gushed in a Facebook posting that included a picture taken from his office of now-unfamiliar blue skies.