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| New S Leone president inaugurated | New S Leone president inaugurated |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Ernest Bai Koroma has been sworn in as Sierra Leone's president, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off election. | Ernest Bai Koroma has been sworn in as Sierra Leone's president, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off election. |
| Mr Koroma, the opposition leader, won 54.6% of the final vote against Vice-President Solomon Berewa's 45.4%. | Mr Koroma, the opposition leader, won 54.6% of the final vote against Vice-President Solomon Berewa's 45.4%. |
| Thousands of jubilant opposition supporters danced in the streets of the capital as news of his victory spread. | Thousands of jubilant opposition supporters danced in the streets of the capital as news of his victory spread. |
| But police fired tear gas to disperse looters at the former ruling party's headquarters in Freetown. | But police fired tear gas to disperse looters at the former ruling party's headquarters in Freetown. |
| The national election commission said that flaws in the vote were not enough to invalidate the result. | The national election commission said that flaws in the vote were not enough to invalidate the result. |
| PROFILE With an ebullient character, Koroma stands tall with charisma - the 54-year-old insurance broker says he wants to run the country like a business concern APC's Ernest Bai Koroma Democracy wins election | PROFILE With an ebullient character, Koroma stands tall with charisma - the 54-year-old insurance broker says he wants to run the country like a business concern APC's Ernest Bai Koroma Democracy wins election |
| Mr Koroma was inaugurated at an afternoon ceremony in Freetown, attended by military officials and dignitaries including outgoing President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah and Mr Berewa. | Mr Koroma was inaugurated at an afternoon ceremony in Freetown, attended by military officials and dignitaries including outgoing President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah and Mr Berewa. |
| Thousands of opposition supporters, bedecked in red, sang and danced throughout a heavy downpour. | Thousands of opposition supporters, bedecked in red, sang and danced throughout a heavy downpour. |
| Mr Koroma told the crowd: "My government will spare no effort to deal with zero tolerance with corruption and mismanagement of state resources. | Mr Koroma told the crowd: "My government will spare no effort to deal with zero tolerance with corruption and mismanagement of state resources. |
| "We know how high your expectations are and that you have suffered for too long." | "We know how high your expectations are and that you have suffered for too long." |
| Mr Kabbah, who was prevented by law from running for a third five-year term, said: "I inherited a bankrupt, war-torn and failing state. | Mr Kabbah, who was prevented by law from running for a third five-year term, said: "I inherited a bankrupt, war-torn and failing state. |
| "Today, I am handing over to you a fully stable and functional state." | "Today, I am handing over to you a fully stable and functional state." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Don't forget the youth and be watchful of wolves in sheep's clothing Brima Karl Samura, Freetown Send your advice | HAVE YOUR SAY Don't forget the youth and be watchful of wolves in sheep's clothing Brima Karl Samura, Freetown Send your advice |
| Last week, the national electoral commission was asked to investigate reports of suspect ballots at 14 polling stations, where the turnout was reported as 100% or more, compared to a national average of 68%. | Last week, the national electoral commission was asked to investigate reports of suspect ballots at 14 polling stations, where the turnout was reported as 100% or more, compared to a national average of 68%. |
| Amid such concerns the governing Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) sought an injunction to try to stop the publication of any further results. | Amid such concerns the governing Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) sought an injunction to try to stop the publication of any further results. |
| But by the time the High Court looked at the application and deemed it required resubmission, the result had already been announced. | But by the time the High Court looked at the application and deemed it required resubmission, the result had already been announced. |
| In any event, the electoral commission had pointed out that most, though not all, of the suspect results were in SLPP strongholds. | In any event, the electoral commission had pointed out that most, though not all, of the suspect results were in SLPP strongholds. |
| Inroads | Inroads |
| Ernest Bai Koroma, 54, is an insurance broker who says he wants to run the country like a business concern. | Ernest Bai Koroma, 54, is an insurance broker who says he wants to run the country like a business concern. |
| He polled well in the predominantly Muslim north of the country and in the capital, Freetown. | He polled well in the predominantly Muslim north of the country and in the capital, Freetown. |
| But he also made inroads into his opponents' traditional heartland in the ethnic Mende south. | But he also made inroads into his opponents' traditional heartland in the ethnic Mende south. |
| Rival for the presidency, Mr Berewa, had been a surprise choice | Rival for the presidency, Mr Berewa, had been a surprise choice |
| Sierra Leone is gradually rebuilding after a decade-long, diamond-fuelled war but remains one of the world's poorest countries where mass unemployment could still lead to instability. | Sierra Leone is gradually rebuilding after a decade-long, diamond-fuelled war but remains one of the world's poorest countries where mass unemployment could still lead to instability. |
| Mr Koroma leader ran a slick campaign calling for change. | Mr Koroma leader ran a slick campaign calling for change. |
| Opponents say his party mismanaged the country for two decades leading up to the war but such criticisms were not enough to deflect an electorate seeking a change. | Opponents say his party mismanaged the country for two decades leading up to the war but such criticisms were not enough to deflect an electorate seeking a change. |
| His rival for the presidency, Mr Berewa, had been a surprise choice - named as the SLPP candidate by the incumbent President Kabbah at a time when he was not even a card-carrying member of the party. | His rival for the presidency, Mr Berewa, had been a surprise choice - named as the SLPP candidate by the incumbent President Kabbah at a time when he was not even a card-carrying member of the party. |
| If you could give President Koroma one piece of advice, what would it be? class="bodl" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7432&edition=2&ttl=20070918130841">Click here to send your advice | |