Muslims Ordered to Pray for Rain

Muslims gathered in mosques throughout drought-stricken Afghanistan to pray for rain on the orders of the ruling Taliban militia. In a Radio Shariat broadcast, the supreme leader of the ruling Taliban, Mullah Mohammed Omar, ordered the faithful to the mosques for three days of prayer aimed at ending the worst drought in 30 years. The United Nations says drought and fighting have pushed more than 100,000 Afghans to flee to Pakistan in the last five months. The World Food Program earlier warned that as many as 1 million people could face starvation before the bitter winter ends in April.