Saudi Arabia's King Fahd was buried at a simple cemetery in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The private ceremony at Al-Od public cemetery followed prayers at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque where Fahd's body was carried by family members.

Thousands crowded in the mosque, some with tears in their eyes as the special prayer for the dead began.

Afterward, Fahd's body was carried back out to an ambulance for a procession of cars to a Riyadh cemetery where the monarch, wrapped in a white shroud, will be buried in an unmarked grave.

Thousands of police were deployed to the capital for funeral ceremonies that presented a security challenge, with large crowds of Saudis participating alongside monarchs, presidents and other dignitaries from the Arab world and other Islamic nations.

Saudis were flocking to express their condolences and their allegiance to Abdullah, Fahd's half brother.

Abdullah took the throne after the 84-year-old Fahd's death on Monday in a smooth succession that suggested the sprawling royal family was unified in the need to show stability in the first change in the monarchy in 23 years.

PHOTO CAPTION

Saudis look at the grave of late King Fahd in Riyadh August 2, 2005. (REUTERS)