Mideast jittery as Ramadan dawns

CAIRO, Egypt — The Middle East is jittery as it heads into Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual introspection that has become a time of increased attacks by suicide bombers who believe they receive extra blessings.

From Iraq to Lebanon to the Sinai, the month of prayer and after-dark feasting is now a month of heightened security.

Egyptian police planned increased watchfulness throughout the month, while insisting no specific threats had been received. But Israel warned its citizens to stay away from Egypt's beach resorts in the Sinai peninsula, calling the threat of attacks substantial.

Militants have not issued specific Ramadan-related threats, but the spike in violence in recent years — especially suicide attacks in Iraq — has been notable.

One possible reason is the belief by some Islamic extremists that those who die in combat for a holy cause during Ramadan are especially blessed.

"This is a month that has a spiritual feel to it, which condones the issue of jihad (holy war)," said Diaa Rashwan, an Egyptian expert on Islamic groups. Tradition holds the Prophet Muhammad led his forces in winning battles against nonbelievers during Ramadan, the ninth and holiest month on the Islamic calendar, which is based on the cycles of the moon.

Observance this year starts today across much of the Middle East, following the announcement by religious officials that the new crescent moon had been sighted Monday night.

Saturday's blasts in Bali came as Indonesia — the world's most-populous Muslim nation — was preparing to celebrate Ramadan, which begins there on Wednesday.

Muslims believe God began to reveal the Quran, the Islamic holy book, to Muhammad more than 1,400 years ago during Ramadan. Muslims are expected to abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk in order to focus on the spiritual.

Muslims spend long periods in mosques and attempt to read the entire Quran during the month. It is believed that during Ramadan, good deeds are rewarded 10 times.

But, in countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Ramadan is also a month of festivities, large after-dark meals and endless TV specials. Cafes and special Ramadan tents stay packed until dawn and traffic jams snarl streets late into the night.

In Lebanon, Ramadan comes at a time of high tension as a U.N.-mandated probe into former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination nears its end. The Lebanese fear the continuation of a series of bombings that have rattled the country since Hariri was killed.