October 27, 2003	Monday	Sha’aban 30, 1424

DUBAI, Oct 26: Muslims in the Middle East mark the holy fasting month of Ramazan this year in a sombre mood amid warnings of imminent militant attacks in the birthplace of Islam.

Saudi Arabia on Sunday warned Muslims against carrying out attacks, saying violence was a sin under Islam.

The US embassy said a day before that “terrorists” may strike during Ramazan in the kingdom, which has cracked down on Muslim militants since May when suspected Al Qaeda suicide bombers struck in the capital Riyadh, killing 35 people.

In Iraq, under the authority of the US-led occupation, Ramazan had not yet been officially announced and Muslims did not know whether to start fasting on Sunday or Monday.

Ramazan began on Sunday in Egypt, Yemen and the Palestinian territories and will start on Monday in Gulf Arab states and Algeria.

During Ramazan last year, Iraqis were bracing for the US-led war that toppled President Saddam Hussein, and stability and order have yet to return to the country.

“This year Ramazan will be different, we don’t know what to expect,” Khalid Abdul Hamid, who runs a confectionery shop in the Iraqi capital said on Friday. “We will try to stay open but we know security will be difficult.”

US-led occupation forces say they will lift a night-time curfew across Baghdad and have been drilled on the customs of Ramazan when Muslims avoid food, drink, smoking and sexual relations in daylight hours.

Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah reminded Muslims that Ramazan was a time for good deeds and the kingdom’s highest religious authority told citizens to avoid violence.

“Seeking to disturb security or subject Muslim countries to instability is forbidden and a Muslim must not seek to do so,” said Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al-Sheikh in a speech.

In the Palestinian territories, Ramazan began on a sombre note after last week’s Israeli air strikes in Gaza that killed 13 Palestinians, including militants and civilians. In the West Bank, people took side roads to go shopping to avoid Israeli military checkpoints.

“I thought the Israelis would ease travel restrictions as a good gesture for Ramazan but they did not,” said one housewife.

Algerians, however, crowded markets fretting over the sharp rise in prices rather than Islamic rebel attacks — which in the past decade have been bloodiest during this period, leading to Ramazan being nicknamed the “Jihad (holy war) month”.—Reuters