Riyadh- Hundreds of tribal chiefs, Islamic clerics, princes and commoners pledged loyalty yesterday to Saudi Arabia”s new King Abdullah, vowing to &#34hear and obey&#34 in a traditional Islamic ceremony that seals his status as the sixth king of Saudi Arabia.

&#34I promise God and you that I will adopt the Quran as the constitution and Islam as the course, and that all my concerns will be to establish righteousness and justice,&#34 Abdullah said in his first address to the nation as king. &#34I appeal to you to support me and help me carry this trust and don”t hesitate to advise me.&#34

Western dignitaries flowed through a Riyadh palace to congratulate the 81-year-old Abdullah and express condolences for the death of King Fahd. Abdullah, in white robes and a cream-colored cloak, sat with Britain”s Prince Charles and Prime Minister Tony Blair as well as the king of Sweden and other European heads of state. One key meeting will be with Vice President Dick Cheney.

Saudi Arabia is a major U.S. ally in the Middle East, and Abdullah has worked to repair ties strained by the Sept. 11 attacks.

Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said he expected U.S.-Saudi relations to continue to improve and vowed a &#34total war&#34 on terrorism.

&#34We stand firmly against (terrorism) not only militarily with security forces, but also with an ideological plan dealing with the causes and roots of those who joined the evil-doers,&#34 al-Faisal told reporters. Quoting Abdullah on terrorism, he said: &#34This disease must be rooted from the body of the politics of Saudi Arabia.&#34.

Hundreds of tribal chiefs, royal family members, government officials and uniformed senior military officers — all men — lined up, some shouting, &#34Long live the king&#34 as they waited their turn to honor King Abdullah. A palace servant swung an incense burner among them to bless the gathering, in a large marble-columned hall covered with silk carpets and graced by giant chandeliers.

Each man shook Abdullah”s hand and pronounced, &#34I express my allegiance to you. I hear and obey, except in what would disobey God.&#34

The &#34bayah&#34 (The allegiance) ceremony has its roots in the succession after the death of Islam”s prophet Muhammed in the 7th century, when the caliphs who followed him received the support of the Muslim community.

Security was tight, with armed agents wandering the hall, wearing traditional white robes and red headdresses, toting automatic weapons and loops of ammunition.

In theory, the ceremony was open to all citizens, but security forces closed off the neighborhood surrounding the palace, set up checkpoints and filtered those who wanted to come in. They checked ID cards, letting in those who were important and turning back others. Two helicopters hovered over the building.