Vast Arab, international participation at King Fahd's funeral

Several Arab leaders and official delegations and senior foreign officials started to arrive in Saudi Arabia to take part in the king's funeral.

The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was the first Arab official to arrive in Riyadh on Monday. The leaders of the Arab states of Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq. Algeria and Syria are taking part in the king's funeral in addition to the French President Jacque Chirac and the British crown Prince Charles, the President of Pakistan and leaders of other Islamic countries.

Several Arab states announced "lowering" its national flag and national mourning, while the special Arab summit which was due tomorrow Wednesday in Sharm al-Sheikh was postponed.

King Fahd ( 84 year old) ruled Saudi Arabia since 1982. Several leaders of countries commended his defense of stability and peace in the region and the world and what the kingdom witnessed of stability under his rule of prosperity and progress.

The late King had suffered the consequences of a brain stroke that effected him since 1995. He assigned the task of running the kingdom to crown prince Abdullah. He was admitted to hospital on May 27th after his health conditions had worsened.