Saudi Arabia plans austere burial for King Fahd

RIYADH - King Fahd will be buried in an unmarked and simple grave in keeping with Saudi Arabia's austere Islamic tradition.

Abdullah was proclaimed Saudi Arabia's new king, succeeding his half-brother who died on Monday after 23 years at the helm of the oil giant and strategic US ally.

Saudi officials say Abdullah, who has run day-to-day affairs since Fahd suffered a stroke in 1995, would maintain the Gulf state's oil policy and close alliance with the West.

Western leaders and dignitaries, including Britain's Prince Charles, are due to arrive to offer condolences.

Funeral prayers will be led by the kingdom's top cleric at a Riyadh mosque and attended by Saudi royals and influential tribal leaders.

US President George W Bush, who has promised a "close partnership" with Saudi Arabia under Abdullah's leadership, will send a delegation. The leaders of Syria, Pakistan and other Muslim states will attend.

Nothing will mark out King Fahd's grave from those of others, in accordance with Saudi Arabia's strict Wahhabi brand of Islam, which regards the visiting of graves as idolatry.

There will be no mourning period, in line with Wahhabism, which unquestionably accepts God's will. Saudi flags, emblazoned with "There is no God but Allah", will not be lowered as this is deemed blasphemous.

Recitations from the Koran echoed from mosques, radios and television sets but shops and businesses remained open as Saudis accepted the long-expected death of their monarch.

"This is a very sad day. But I think the people were ready for this to happen as he was very ill for a long time," said Mohammad al-Aqeel, a 31-year-old Saudi engineer.

Fahd, aged about 83, had been in hospital since May 27, when he was admitted with acute pneumonia. He ascended the throne in 1982, at the height of the Saudi petrodollar boom, with a reputation as an administrator and international diplomat.

Saudis will pledge allegiance to Abdullah, who is at least 80, and new Crown Prince Sultan on Wednesday.

Analysts say Abdullah's toughest challenges would be to implement political reforms and keep up the fight against Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, which has a waged two-year violent campaign aimed at toppling the Saudi royal family.

Bin Laden has vowed to depose the Saudi royals, whom he has blasted as US "agents and stooges".

US crude oil jumped after Fahd's death but Saudi officials said the kingdom would stand by its long-standing policy aimed at pumping enough oil to satisfy markets and stabilise prices.

Abdullah, the fifth son of Saudi Arabia's founder King Abdul-Aziz to ascend the throne, is a cautious reformer who has overseen modest economic and political liberalisation.

TRIBUTES FROM WORLD LEADERS

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II

"During his reign Britain and Saudi Arabia enjoyed a very close relationship. The Queen extends her best wishes to King Abdullah and looks forward to strengthening the bonds that link our two countries."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair

"King Fahd was a man of great vision and leadership who inspired his countrymen for a quarter of a century as king. He led Saudi Arabia through a period of unparalleled progress and development. He was also a good friend of the United Kingdom. Under his guidance our two countries have developed extremely close political, commercial and defence links. They will always be seen as his legacy."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

"We feel sorrow and pain over the death of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd. We have known this man for a long time ... he showed support and commitment to the Palestinian revolution and to Fatah since the 60s."

French President Jacques Chirac

"During his reign King Fahd was, above all, concerned with the safety of his people. In troubled times, he guaranteed the integrity of his country and defended regional stability. He developed the kingdom wisely. "King Fahd was also committed to the strong and trusting relations between France and Saudi Arabia. This old friendship ... took on a new dimension under his reign, helped by a shared vision of what was at stake regionally and internationally."

Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

"King Fahd ... devoted himself to the service of his religion, homeland, people and his Arab and Muslim nation."

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder

"King Fahd's wisdom, far-sightedness, huge personal engagement for dialogue between the Middle East and the Western world, and his balanced and mediatory policies in the Middle East earned him and the Saudi Kingdom respect and recognition worldwide."

Saad Al-Hariri, Lebanese leader close to Saudi Royal Family

"We in Lebanon, which the king loved and offered his efforts, heart and time to in a way the Lebanese people will never forget, feel the magnitude of the loss, remembering how the kingdom stood by us at each of our political and economic crossroads."

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad

"He spent his life defending the interests of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the causes of the Arab nation. He was keen on fortifying relations between our two countries."

Lebanon's Hizbollah Guerrilla Group

"King Fahd left a clear mark on the modern history of Saudi Arabia and in Arab and Islamic circles and all the Lebanese will continue to respect him for his big role in the Taif Accord and his work to end the war in Lebanon."

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani

"Today we lost one of the most prominent leaders and a good man who dedicated his life and efforts to serve his country and nation."

Tristan Cooper, Moody's Vice President Sovereign Risk Group

"I don't see any rating implication from the death of King Fahd. It had been expected for a long time and had been built into our rating ... Saudi Arabia's main strength is that it is the world's largest oil exporter ... I can't see any change in Saudi external policy because of the death."

Geoff Pyne, Energy Consultant to Standard Bank

"It's not going to have a great deal of effect because Crown Prince Abdullah has been effectively running the country for several years. It could have a psychological effect on markets. Anything which adds uncertainty to the market could be construed as bullish in the short-term."

- REUTERS