By Timour Azhari, Phil Stewart, Jonathan Spicer and Suleiman Al-Khalidi DAMASCUS (Reuters) -The United States encouraged its Syrian Kurdish allies to reach Monday's landmark deal with the Islamist-led government in Damascus,

The scenes of elation following Monday night's declaration came in sharp contrast to the grim scenes in coastal communities wracked by days of clashes.

Syrians from around the country celebrated an agreement signed by interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa with the Syrian Democratic Forces to join new state institutions. The accord comes at a critical moment as Sharaa grapples with the fallout from deadly clashes between Syrian forces and militants loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad.