RIYADH: The Eid-ul-Fitr marking the end of the holy month of Ramazan will start on Wednesday in Gulf states and Yemen, religious authorities there announced.

The crescent moon which marks the new lunar month was not sighted on Monday night, and Tuesday would therefore be considered the 30th and final day of Ramazan.

The official news agencies of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Yemen all quoted religious authorities as saying that the annual feast will begin on Wednesday.