Indonesia to begin Ramadhan on Thursday

Muslims in Indonesia, the world's most populous Islamic-majority nation, are to begin the holy fasting month of Ramadhan on Thursday, a religious affairs ministry official said.

"The minister officially announced last night that the first day of Ramadhan falls on Thursday," said Nursiyah, a ministry official said Wednesday.

The announcement was made at the end of a meeting with representatives of major Islamic organisations here to hear their views and calculations regarding the start of the fasting month, she was quoted by AFP as saying.

Islamic astronomers observed the moon at numerous locations across the sprawling archipelago nation last night but did not sight the new moon.