Hundreds vow loyalty to the new Saudi king

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Hundreds of tribal chiefs, Islamic clerics, princes, and commoners pledged loyalty yesterday to Saudi Arabia's new King Abdullah, vowing to ''hear and obey" in a traditional Islamic ceremony that sealed his status as monarch after a decade as de facto ruler.

Abdullah's investiture strengthens his hand to push forward with what have been the hallmarks of his unofficial rule: limited steps toward reform and a crackdown on Islamic extremism and militants linked to Al Qaeda.

''I promise God and you that I will adopt the Koran as the constitution and Islam as the course, and that all my concerns will be to establish righteousness and justice," Abdullah said in his first address to the nation as king. ''I appeal to you to support me and help me carry this trust and don't hesitate to advise me."

Western dignitaries flowed through a Riyadh palace to congratulate the 81-year-old Abdullah and express condolences for the death of his predecessor and half brother, King Fahd. Abdullah sat with Prince Charles and Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain as well as the king of Sweden and other European heads of state.

One key meeting will be with Vice President Dick Cheney, who was leaving Washington yesterday evening for Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia is a major US ally in the Middle East, and Abdullah has worked to repair ties strained by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in which 15 of the attackers were Saudis.