Muslims around the world yesterday celebrated Eid al-Fitr, a time of joy and feasting after the holy month of Ramadan. Government departments, private businesses and stock markets in Islamic countries closed for the festival, which lasts for three days in most countries.
In Saudi Arabia, King Fahd joined close to two million Muslims who prayed in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, where he was accompanied by the former prime minister of Lebanon, Mr Rafiq alHariri.
The preacher of Mecca's Grand Mosque urged the faithful to close ranks to overcome problems facing the world's one billion Muslims.
A number of Muslim states freed prisoners in honour of the holiday and rulers opened their doors to receive well-wishers. In Morocco, King Hassan pardoned 512 prisoners. The Palestinian Authority pardoned 54 prisoners, including activists from the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas.
At least eight people were killed and dozens injured in clashes in Indonesia in the run-up to celebrations of the end of Ramadan, witnesses and news reports said. The eight died in a four-day drunken brawl between youths in Aru island.