CNN: New leader's pledge: Unite Liberia (Africa's 1st elected female pres)

[DeepModem Mom]

New leader's pledge: Unite Liberia
Inauguration for Africa's first elected female head of state
Monday, January 16, 2006


MONROVIA, Liberia -- Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has been sworn in as Liberia's new president, becoming Africa's first elected female head of state.

Sirleaf took the oath of office Monday at an inauguration ceremony in the capital of Monrovia attended by dignitaries and leaders from around the world.

The 67-year-old grandmother, who was elected in a run-off vote in November, has promised unite Liberia by ending political corruption and rebuilding her country after civil war between 1989 and 2003 left some 200,000 dead.

CNN correspondent Jeff Koinange, reporting from Monrovia, said Monday's high-profile ceremony would have been unthinkable just two years ago.

"This was literally a war zone. All that has changed," he said....


http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/01/16/liberia/index.html