MONROVIA, Jan 16: Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took the oath of office on Monday, becoming Africa’s first elected woman head of state in a country torn apart by 14 years of civil war.

“I, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, do solemnly swear to protect, defend and uphold the constitution of the Republic of Liberia and will conscientiously, faithfully and impartially discharge my duties to the best of my ability, so help me God,” she said, her hand on the Bible.

The 67-year-old former economist was sworn in by the country’s supreme court chief justice Henry Reed Cooper at a Monrovia ceremony attended by thousands of people from around the west African nation and several foreign leaders.

Sirleaf on November 8 won a second round election victory against football hero George Weah, who was absent from the ceremony but has dropped claims of fraud at the polls ‘in the national interest’.

In her first speech as head of state, the veteran politician said “my government extends a hand of friendship and solidarity to leaders of all political parties,” urging them to bury their differences.

A quarter of a million people were killed in Liberia’s wars, which played a destabilizing role in neighbouring, diamond-rich Sierra Leone, now emerging from its own wars, and also spilled into conflict-divided Ivory Coast.

Before she took the oath, the 64 members of parliament elected last October were sworn in with the 30 senators in the upper house during the ceremony at the Capitol, which began with fanfares from musicians with horns and drums.—AFP