Ramadan begins in Morocco Friday

The holy month of Ramadan begins in Morocco on Friday, it was officially announced in Rabat.

The lunar crescent marking the beginning of the month of Ramadan could not be observed on Wednesday evening, therefore the month of Shaaban of the hijra year would be thirty days long, and Ramadan, Muslims' fasting month, starts on Friday, December 10.

On the occasion of the holy month, some 73 ulemas (theologians) and preachers had been dispatched to 12 foreign countries hosting large Moroccan communities.

The mission of the theologians and preachers who will dispense religious guidance to the Moroccan expatriates is sponsored by the Hassan II foundation for Moroccans settled abroad.

According to 1997 figures, some 2 million Moroccans are living abroad, including 1.6 million in Europe. More than 200,000 live in Arab countries, about 85,000 in America and nearly 4,000 in Africa.

Meanwhile, Syria and Egypt had declared the 9th as the start of Ramadan.