Guatemala City, Jan 15: Businessman and former Guatemala City Mayor Oscar Berger was sworn in as Guatemala's new President and prepared to tackle the country's widespread poverty, limited economic resources and pressing health care, security and education needs. Berger, 57, officially took office yesterday at the Miguel Angel Asturias Theater under tight security in effect since Saturday.
Representatives from various international organizations and some 150 countries were on hand for the swearing-in ceremony, including the Presidents of Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Saint Kitts.
The brother of US President George W. Bush, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, represented the United States at the ceremony.
Berger, a Conservative, defeated fellow businessman Alvaro Colom with more than 54 per cent of the vote in the Central American country's December 28 runoff presidential race.
Berger succeeds Alfonso Portillo in leading the country of some 11.2 million people -- the majority of whom are living in abject poverty.
His task of ruling the country will be complicated by the fact that his party, the national grand alliance does not control Parliament. Bureau Report