Most of the Muslim Middle East began the first day of Ramadan yesterday, but Iraqi Shiites and some Lebanese Shi'ites will follow Iran's example and begin observing the holy month of fasting today.

Ramadan begins the day after the sighting of the crescent moon that marks the beginning of a new lunar month. Some countries use astronomical calculations and observatories, while others rely on the naked eye alone, leading to different starting times.

Libya, for example, began the holy period on Sunday. The state-run Libyan news agency reported that religious officials there had already spotted the first tiny sliver of moon.