Saudi stability unshaken as ailing king dies

SAUDI ARABIA's ailing ruler, King Fahd, died in hospital yesterday - and was immediately succeeded by his elderly half-brother in a changeover that promises stability in the country's anti-terror stance.

Crown Prince Abdullah, an austere and experienced figure who has spearheaded a cautious reform programme and the crackdown against al-Qaeda militants, was swiftly pronounced monarch after the death of King Fahd, 83, who had used a wheelchair since suffering a stroke ten years ago.

The long-serving defence minister, Prince Sultan, became the new crown prince. Both he and the new king are 81.

The transition was fortuitously timed. The threat from al-Qaeda-linked militants, who began a violent campaign within the kingdom two years ago, has receded following draconian security measures, making it unlikely militants will be able to capitalise on Fahd's death.

Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia is expected to see a succession of kings over the next decade as the ageing sons of King Abdulaziz ibn Saud, the founder of the modern kingdom, accede to the throne. Most are also in their 70s and 80s in a country where 60 per cent of the population is under 18.

More important will be the enthronement of the next generation of princes, who range in age from their 30s to 60s.

As crown prince, Abdullah helped rebuild relations with Washington, which were strained when it emerged that 15 of the 19 suicide hijackers in the attacks on 11 September, 2001, were Saudis.

Saudi officials remained in apparent denial until May 2003, when home-grown militants linked to al-Qaeda began a series of devastating terror attacks on mainly Western and later government offices in the kingdom that have since claimed more than 200 lives.

But gradual reforms spearheaded by Abdullah, accompanied by tough security measures, won back a measure of Western confidence. Scores of militants have been killed in shoot-outs and hundreds more arrested in the past two years.

There has been no significant terror attack for several months.

"Al-Qaeda is still a threat but it seems they've got all the top layer of terrorists," a Western diplomat in Riyadh said.

But not all the attempts to curb terrorism have been successful. Last year Scot Sandy Mitchell claimed he was tortured into confessing a terrorist bombing in Riyadh. The 47-year-old, from Kirkintilloch, was one of six Britons freed from prison in Saudi Arabia in August 2003.

Fahd's death had been expected since he was rushed to hospital with acute pneumonia on 27 May.

There will be no mourning period in Saudi Arabia, in line with strict Wahhabi Muslim tradition that unquestioningly accepts God's will.

Condolences and tributes poured in from around the world ahead of the funeral, which is due to take place this afternoon at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque in Riyadh.

Egypt and the Palestinian National Authority declared three days of mourning. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said of Fahd: "He showed support and commitment to the Palestinian revolution and to Fatah since the 1960s."

Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, said: "He spent his life defending the interests of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the causes of the Arab nation."

A British delegation led by Prince Charles is due to fly to Riyadh later in the week to pay their respects. Charles is likely to be accompanied by Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, and Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary. Mr Blair said: "King Fahd was a man of great vision and leadership who inspired his countrymen for a quarter of a century."

George Bush, the US president, called King Abdullah to express condolences.

Under Fahd, who ruled for more than 20 years, Saudi Arabia had become the West's main military ally in the Gulf and pursued a policy of moderate oil prices, guaranteeing the world's energy needs.

"I cannot imagine there will be any particular change in that [foreign] policy undertaken by the late King Fahd," said Prince Turki al-Faisal, the outgoing Saudi ambassador to Britain. Asked whether the same applied to the kingdom's oil policy, he said: "Absolutely."

Domestically, there are hopes the title of king will empower Abdullah to advance the cautious reforms he had been masterminding, highlighted by the recent, men-only partial municipal elections.

He has tried to improve relations with the Shia minority while curbing the influence of radical Wahhabi clerics.

Abdullah is regarded as a strong leader at home - where he has a secure power base - and abroad. He is a personal friend of Mr Bush, who recently hosted the new Saudi leader at his ranch in Texas. Yet Abdullah's closeness to Washington has been balanced by his readiness to criticise US policies.

A European diplomat in Riyadh said: "He has very good links with the people and tribes and is a cautious reformer. Don't expect any sudden changes. He's committed to stability."

US crude oil prices jumped almost 50 cents a barrel after Fahd's death was reported, but analysts said that was an irrational knee-jerk reaction.

Rocky reign from oil boom to 9/11

KING Fahd was enthroned in 1982 at the height of Saudi Arabia's "petrodollar" boom and reigned through three regional wars and, in his final years, al-Qaeda militancy.

He allied his country closely with the United States and the United Kingdom, and pursued a policy of moderate oil prices to guarantee the world's energy needs.

He was rumoured to have amassed a personal fortune of up to $30 billion (17 billion) and in his youth had a reputation as a playboy, with allegations of drinking, gambling and womanising. It was once claimed he lost more than $6 million in one night at the Monte Carlo casino. But he settled down in the 1950s to take ministerial positions in the Saudi administration and was regarded as an astute technocrat and negotiator.

In 1953 he joined the government's inner circle as the kingdom's first education minister and was hailed as a reformist after playing a key role in furthering the education of women.

He also helped build the country's infrastructure as interior minister from 1962 to 1975, when he became the effective ruler, assuming the responsibilities of his ailing half-brother, King Khalid.

The toughest decision of his reign came after Saddam Hussein's invasion of neighbouring Kuwait in 1990, when King Fahd decided to allow US forces to be based on the kingdom's soil, fearing Iraq could also invade Saudi Arabia.

He told his people their presence would be temporary, but US troops stayed on for 13 years after Kuwait was liberated.

The move infuriated many conservative religious clerics, who are vital for maintaining the Royal Family's legitimacy.

Relations with the US were also badly strained when it emerged that 15 of the 19 attackers in the 11 September outrages were Saudis.