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Liberia's leader sworn in
16/01/2006 15:03 - (SA)
Monrovia - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was sworn in on Monday as war-battered Liberia's new president, carving her name into history as Africa's first elected female head of state.
Wearing a cream-coloured outfit and traditional African headdress, Sirleaf repeated the oath of office read to her by Liberian Supreme Court Chief Justice Henry Reed Cooper during an inauguration ceremony attended by thousands of civilians and scores of foreign diplomats, dignitaries and African leaders.
To thunderous applause, Sirleaf pledged to "faithfully, conscientiously and impartially discharge the duties and functions of the office of president of the Republic of Liberia to the best of my abilities, so help me God."
In a statement, United States Secretary-General Kofi Annan congratulated Sirleaf, saying she had a "historic mandate to lead the nation toward a future of lasting peace and stability."
Sirleaf takes charge of a ruined nation struggling for peace after a quarter century of coups and war. She has pledged to unite Liberia and secure the trust of sceptical foreign donors whose aid is desperately needed to rebuild.
Security was tight at Monday's ceremony, with armed UN peacekeepers surveying the scene from atop surrounding buildings with binoculars. The UN has redeployed 500 peacekeepers previously stationed outside the capital to strategic points in Monrovia and the international airport. Liberian police, though unarmed, have also increased their presence on the streets.
Two United States Navy warships were visible offshore for the first time since the war ended in 2003, a rare show of support also meant to protect two high-profile guests: Laura Bush and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Also attending were several African heads of state, including Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo and South Africa's Thabo Mbeki.
Sirleaf will serve a six-year term as head of Africa's oldest republic, founded by freed American slaves in 1847. The country has known little but war, however, since a rebel group led by Charles Taylor plunged the country into chaos, invading from neighbouring Ivory Coast in 1989.
Twice imprisoned in the 1980s by Doe's junta, Sirleaf fled into exile.
After another rebel war forced Taylor from power in 2003, Sirleaf ran for president again, this time winning a heated November run-off buoyed by a resume that included senior jobs at Citibank, the UN and the World Bank. Her soccer star rival, George Weah, was backed by ex-rebel leaders and many ex-combatants.
Sirleaf inherits a nation in tatters. The capital has no running water or electricity, and unemployment is an astounding 80%.
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