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.

NEARLY two million Muslims jostled to "stone Satan" yesterday, a day after 251 pilgrims died here carrying out the same ancient ritual, provoking orders from King Fahd to modernise the holy sites of Mecca and Medina where tragedy strikes with terrible regularity.