Saudi pledges of support to King Abdullah after Fahd's funeral

Saudis today vowed support to Saudi Arabia's new King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, as the 6th king for Saudi Arabia, in succession for King Fahd whose funeral was held on Tuesday.

King Abdullah and his crown prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz will be receiving Bai'a (confidence) from tribal chieftains, families and citizens.

The Bai'a will start from al-Hakam (rule) palace, in the capital Riyadh, in front of King Abdullah. It will be also carried out in all Saudi areas and governorates in front of its princes and governors in their capacity as representatives for the king, in an Islamic Saudi tradition.

The Bai'a in the Saudi rule embodies the linking contract between the rule and the citizen. It is carried out as an oath taking to follow the rules of the Prophet's conduct and Sunni.

The kingdom's general mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh called in a statement on Muslims to pledge support to Abdullah as a king for the country and prince Sultan as his crown prince.