MUSLIM leaders and Saudi princes bade farewell to King Fahd yesterday, saying prayers in a jammed mosque and then burying him in an unmarked desert grave in keeping with the kingdom’s austere version of Islam.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed Ireland will be officially represented during mourning for Saudi King Fahd.

President McAleese has this afternoon offered condolences on behalf of the people of Ireland following the death of Saudi King Fahd.

The Spanish government declared today a day of mourning following the death of Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd, recalling the monarch’s contribution to peace in the Middle East and his strong ties with Spain.

Heads of state from around the world jetted into the Saudi capital of Riyadh amid tight security today to attend the funeral of King Fahd, the oil-rich country’s ruler for almost a quarter of a century who died yesterday from a long illness.

King Abdullah has taken the throne in a swift and smooth succession for this US ally and oil giant after the death of his long-ailing half brother. Abdullah, the de facto ruler for a decade, is expected to consolidate his power and could open the door for younger, more modern princes to play a role in government.

THE death yesterday of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, has unleashed a scramble for power in the world’s largest oil producer.

Wall Street finished an uninspired session mixed today as a new record high in oil prices was partly offset by a better-than-expected reading of the nation’s industrial activity and strong sales at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

US President George Bush called newly appointed King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia today to express condolences over the death of King Fahd and to congratulate Abdullah on his succession to the throne.

An emergency Arab summit scheduled to take place in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh in two days has been postponed following today’s death of Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd, said the Arab League secretary-general’s office.

Saudi Arabia’s ruler, King Fahd, died early today in a Riyadh hospital, according to an official where the monarch was being treated and an adviser to the royal family.

Saudi authorities hope King Fahd will be discharged from hospital in the next few days, Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said today in Cairo.

Saudi King Fahd’s condition is stable and reassuring, Crown Prince Abdullah said today, three days after the monarch was hospitalised suffering from pneumonia.

Lebanon’s first parliamentary polls without heavy-handed Syrian influence began today.

King Fahd of Saudi Arabia was in a stable condition today, medical officials said, a day after the monarch was taken to hospital for unspecified medical tests.

Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd, whose actions to strengthen the oil kingdom’s ties with the US brought down the wrath of Islamic militants, was taken to a Riyadh hospital yesterday apparently suffering from pneumonia.

King Fahd was taken to a Riyadh hospital today for medical tests, the Saudi Press Agency said.

A three day gun battle between Saudi security forces and suspected al-Qaida fighters ended today with at least ten militants killed, a security official said.

A military prosecutor has charged 35 Arab nationals and alleged members of an al-Qaida-linked terror group with plotting to bomb foreign targets in Lebanon, including the Italian and Ukrainian diplomatic missions, officials said today.

AN Irishman was shot dead yesterday at his office in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, the Government confirmed last night.

A month-long amnesty offered by Saudi King Fahd to militants who turn themselves in has failed to attract hardcore militants responsible for the killings of scores of Saudis and foreigners in waves of attacks that began in May 2003.

THE head of the American hostage murdered by militants last month has been found after a raid on the hideout of an al-Qaida leader in Saudi Arabia.

The head of American hostage Paul Johnson, who was kidnapped and beheaded in Saudi Arabia last month, was found today by security forces during a raid on a hideout that left two militants dead.

A firebrand cleric who issued religious decrees for an al Qaida-linked terrorist group has been killed during a car chase and shootout with Saudi police that also killed a policeman.

ONE of the most-wanted militants in Saudi Arabia has turned himself in to authorities, a security official said yesterday.

One of Saudi Arabia’s most-wanted militants turned himself in to authorities in southern Saudi Arabia, a security official said today.

THE al-Qaida group responsible for abducting and killing an American engineer say they were aided by sympathisers in the Saudi security forces — a claim denied by Saudi authorities.

A BRITISH man freed this week after being jailed in Saudi Arabia with six other westerners for organising bomb attacks has said he was tortured into confessing, it was reported yesterday.

Saudi Arabia has arrested four suspected members of an al-Qaida cell believed to have carried out last week’s deadly attacks in Riyadh and said the bodies of five attackers had been identified.

Libya today recalled its ambassador to Saudi Arabia for consultations following a heated and public exchange of insults between Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah at an Arab summit.

Saudi Arabia has helped evacuate 24 members of the extended family of Osama bin Laden from the US.