Ramadan begins for world's Muslims, violently for some

The world's 1.5 billion Muslims began observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Saturday, blighted by conflict and bloodshed in countries ranging from Afghanistan to Libya.Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam during which Muslims are supposed to devote themselves to praying, giving to charity and fasting from dawn to dusk.Although for many Ramadan is a time for families to gather and break the fast with an iftar meal at sunset and socialise, this year it has been marked by violence.