Hadi sworn in as Yemen president
Abed Rabo Mansour Hadi has been sworn in as Yemen’s new president, replacing Ali Abdullah Saleh who ruled the country for 33 years before leaving office in a power transfer deal aimed at ending more than a year of political turmoil.
Mr Hadi, who was Mr Saleh’s vice president, was formally inaugurated in the country’s parliament today following a single-candidate presidential election earlier in the week.
Mr Saleh returned to Yemen early today after spending about three weeks in the US receiving treatment for injuries he suffered during a June rocket attack on his compound.
He was the fourth Arab leader swept from power by the Arab Spring.
In his televised speech, Mr Hadi swore to keep up Yemen's fight against al-Qaida-linked militants, who took advantage of the country's upheaval to seize control of several parts of the country.
He also pledged to work to bring home the thousands of internal refugees created by fighting between government troops, southern separatists, mutinous military units, tribal movements, and numerous other factions.
“One of the most prominent tasks is the continuation of war against al Qaida as a religious and national duty, and to bring back displaced people to their villages and towns,” he said.
Mr Hadi received more than 99% of the votes cast in presidential elections in which he was the only candidate.
The election was arranged as part of a US and Gulf-backed power transfer deal signed in November. Washington has played an active role in the transition, in the hope that Mr Hadi can head off chaos and ensure co-operation against the country’s active al Qaida branch, which has targeted the US.
