One day after world leaders joined ordinary Saudi citizens in bidding farewell to King Fahd, who died on Monday aged 84, prominent figures converged on a royal palace in Riyadh to swear allegiance to King Abdullah and new Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz.

Rulers of the ultra-conservative Gulf kingdom, whose entire system is based on Islamic law, see the pledge of allegiance based on the Koran and the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad as akin to a public referendum.

Clerics, religious scholars, tribal chiefs, officials and businessmen, as well as ordinary citizens, take part in the process.

More foreign leaders flew in to offer condolences after the death of Fahd and congratulate the new monarch, his half-brother and de facto ruler since the late king suffered a stroke a decade ago.