Egypt now has the first civilian head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the country’s modern Army.
Mohammed Mursi has been sworn in as the country’s first civilian, democratically elected president at a historic ceremony in Cairo.
Mursi, the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate, took the oath before the Supreme Constitutional Court.
He promised to respect the constitution and the rule of law, and to protect the people of Egypt.
He is now due to speak at Cairo University before going to an army base for the handover from military rule.
On Friday, he undertook a symbolic swearing-in before crowds gathered in Tahrir Square to protest against decrees issued by the country’s ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf).
Mursi said he would insist on being given the full powers of a president, and added: “The revolution must continue until all its objectives are met.”
His administration will try to ease the military out – knowing that in overt confrontation the military is the one with the guns, says regional analyst Magdi Abdelhadi.
But the Mubarak regime is still largely intact and many in it will not work with the president, he says.
Mursi took his oath of office about an hour later than scheduled at the constitutional court – not as originally planned at the parliament, which was dissolved by the Scaf last week.
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