World leaders in Saudi Arabia to pay tribute to late king

World leaders have gathered in Saudi Arabia to pay their respects following the death of King Abdullah on Friday.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande are among those in the capital, Riyadh. A US delegation, led by President Barack Obama, will arrive on Tuesday.

The dignitaries from more than 10 countries are due to meet the new ruler, King Salman.

He has pledged continuity in the country's foreign and energy policies.

He moved swiftly to appoint heirs and ministers, including one prince from the ruling dynasty's third generation.

The BBC's Jonny Dymond says the long list of dignitaries travelling to Riyadh is testament to Saudi Arabia's global standing.

Iran was being represented by its Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif. The UK's Prince Charles, King Felipe VI of Spain and Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik were among the royals offering their condolences.

King Abdullah died on Friday, weeks after being admitted to hospital with a lung infection.

Gulf leaders, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended the funeral.

US President Barack Obama paid tribute to Abdullah as a leader who "was always candid and had the courage of his convictions". UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised Abdullah's work "to promote dialogue among the world's faiths".

However, human rights groups said Saudi Arabia's human rights record had been dismal under Abdullah and urged Salman to do more to protect freedom of speech and women's rights.

Amnesty International spokesman Neil Durkin described Abdullah's human rights legacy as "disastrous", saying that "endemic torture in police cells and in prisons" remained.

King Abdullah came to the throne in 2005 but had already been Saudi Arabia's de-facto leader for 10 years because his predecessor, King Fahd, had been debilitated by a stroke.

Abdullah had suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years, and King Salman had recently taken on the ailing monarch's responsibilities.

Credit: BBC