Cairo, 2005/10/4 - The Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan is began Tuesday October 4 in most Arab countries.
In Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites in Makkah and Medina, official television announced Monday that "the crescent moon has been sighted this evening... so tomorrow will be the first day of the holy month of Ramadhan".
Egypt's grand Mufti, Ali Gomaa, also confirmed the Tuesday start of Ramadhan during a traditional ceremony aired on state television.
Similar announcements were made by the state media quoting top religious authorities in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and the Palestinian territories.
The Omani state news agency ONA said "the crescent of the holy month of Ramadhan has not been sighted" and that Ramadan would start on Wednesday October 5.
