In pictures: Saudi King Abdullah mourned

Mourners and leaders pray next to the body of Saudi King Abdullah during his funeral at Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Grand Mosque in Riyadh on 23 January 2015, in this handout photo provided by Saudi Press AgencyReuters

Mourners have gathered in Saudi Arabia to pay their respects to King Abdullah, who died in hospital weeks after being admitted with a lung infection.

Mourners gather around the grave of Saudi Arabian King Abdullah at the al-Oud cemetery in Riyadh on 23 January 2015 following his death in the early hours of the morningAFP

In keeping with the traditions of Wahhabi Islam, the king has a modest unmarked grave.

A handout picture released by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah (front-L) upon his arrival in Riyadh to attend the funeral of King Abdullah on 23 January 2015AFP

World leaders including the emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, hurried to Riyadh for the funeral which came hours after the king's death was announced.

Saudi Arabia's newly appointed King Salman arrives for the funeral of his half-brother late King Abdullah at the Al-Od cemetery in the centre of Riyadh on 23 January 2015 following his death in the early hours of the morningAFP

Also among the mourners was Abdullah's quickly anointed successor - half-brother King Salman. Keen to avoid uncertainty, the ruling family appointed another of King Abdullah's half-brothers, Muqrin, as the new crown prince.

Members of Saudi security forces stand guard during the funeral of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in Riyadh on 23 January 2015Reuters

The monarchy is faced with formidable challenges - with the Islamic State (IS) group to the north and al-Qaeda in Yemen to the south.

The Union Flag flies at half mast over Westminster Abbey in London, the UK, following the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on 23 January 2015Getty Images

King Abdullah's passing was marked in other countries - here, a flag flies at half mast over Westminster Abbey in London.

Players and spectators observe a minute of silence for King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia before the Qatar 2015 24th Men's Handball World Championship match between Spain and Slovenia at the Duhail Handball Sports Hall in Doha, Qatar, on 23 January 2015EPA

While in Qatar, Spanish and Slovenian handball players observed a minute's silence before a match in Doha.

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