New Kyrgyz president takes oath of office

BISHKEK: Almazbek Atambayev was inaugurated as president of Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, in a ceremony highlighting a rare peaceful transition of presidential power in the violence-scarred Central Asian country.

"I swear before God and the people to fairly carry out the duties of the head of state, guard the rights of citizens, strictly follow the Kyrgyz constitution, defend the unity of the people, and protect the integrity and security of the state," he said in his oath, an AFP correspondent reported.