Faithful Muslims around the world begin celebrating Eid

Muslims across the Middle East and beyond began marking the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr, one of the most celebrated holidays for the world's 1.5 billion Muslims and traditionally a time for family and festivities.

The holiday marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, when devout Muslims have been fasting from sunrise to sunset.

But the start of the holiday varies from country to country with splits even within the same country because the start of Eid is traditionally based on sightings of the new moon.

As with everything else in the Middle East, politics often plays a part.

Ordinarily a festive occasion, this year's Eid comes amid war and turmoil in more than one area. In Afghanistan, the Taliban insurgent group has said it will not mark Eid with a cease fire, as they did last year.

Yemen has been mired in war and famine for years, while in Sudan, the ruling military just conducted a deadly crackdown on Monday against pro-democracy protesters, killing at least 35.

Sudanese protesters have camped for months outside the military's headquarters as the two sides negotiated over who would run the country after longtime strongman Omar al-Bashir's ouster in April.

On Monday, the military had had enough and moved to crush the protest movement, overrunning the main sit-in site in the capital, unleashing furious volleys of gunfire, beating protesters with sticks and burning down tents.

At night, the state-run SUNA news agency announced that the country will celebrate the first day of Eid on Wednesday, but the Sudanese Professionals' Association, which has spearheaded the protests, declared Tuesday is the first day of Eid according to astronomers in the Khartoum University apparently in defiance to the military council.

The SPA urged people across the country to hold Eid prayers, "pray for the martyrs" and take to the streets to protest.

Mohammed Yousef al-Mustafa, a spokesman for the SPA, said the military authorities has announced Tuesday as a fasting day in efforts to keep people in their homes after Monday's "massacre."