Leaders gather for Fahd's funeral

Muslim kings, presidents and prime ministers gathered in Saudi Arabia Tuesday to pay their last respects to King Fahd at a modest funeral in keeping with the kingdom's austere Islamic tradition.

Fahd died on Monday after 23 years ruling the strategic Gulf state which is both the world's biggest oil exporter and the cradle of Islam drawing more than 1 billion faithful to turn five times a day toward Mecca in prayer.

He is succeeded by his half-brother Abdullah who has run day-to-day affairs since Fahd suffered a stroke in 1995 and is expected to maintain Saudi Arabia's commitment to stable oil markets and its close alliance with the West.

An official said security forces, who have been battling a wave of al-Qaida attacks in Saudi Arabia, were taking the same precautions "that any other government would take to secure a huge event like this with very high-profile guests."

Western leaders and dignitaries, including Britain's Prince Charles, are due to arrive later to offer condolences after the funeral service taking place at a Riyadh mosque at 3 pm (1200 GMT).

In line with Saudi Arabia's puritan Wahhabi school of Islam, which regards the veneration of tombs as idolatry, Fahd will be laid to rest in a simple, unmarked grave in a Riyadh cemetery.

"His grave will be like the grave of all Muslims... There is no difference between him and other Muslims," said Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, the country's top cleric, who will lead the funeral prayers.

Unlike many Muslim states, Saudi Arabia has set no mourning period, in keeping with Wahhabi acceptance of God's will without question. Saudi flags, emblazoned with the proclamation of faith "There is no God but Allah," flew at full mast.

Shops and businesses opened as usual in the capital Tuesday, though the mood among ordinary Saudis was subdued.

"I'm very sad. I haven't slept since I heard the news," said 23-year-old Abdul Muhsin. "He is not just any normal person, he is a historic figure."

Another Saudi, Ahmed Muhsin, said Fahd had steered Saudi Arabia through "many problems and changes" during his reign.

"He was a great political leader," he said.

Ordinary Saudis will mix at the funeral with leaders from across the Muslim world, including Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai.

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 today.

Abdullah, who is 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 liberalization.

Source: China Daily