Egypt: First Islamist President Sworn In

Egypt's new President, Mohamed Morsi, has been officially sworn in as the country's first democratically elected leader, 16 months after the revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak from power.

The 60-year-old promised to deliver a "new Egypt" as he took the oath of office before judges at the Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo in a private, solemn ceremony.

"We aspire to a better tomorrow, a new Egypt and a second republic," he said.

The new President, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, is the first Islamist leader in the country's history and also the first leader not to have been drawn from the ranks of the military.

"Today the Egyptian people have laid the foundation of a new life, absolute freedom, a genuine democracy and stability," Mr Morsi  said in a brief speech broadcast on state television.

He later delivered his first national address as the country's leader at Cairo University, telling his people that they had imposed "their will and sovereignty".  

The official events followed Mr Morsi's informal reading of the presidential oath in front of a crowd of tens of thousands in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday - the birthplace of Egypt's uprising.

The move was seen as an act of defiance against the country's military who have sought to limit his role.

Egypt's generals will later formally hand over power to the new civilian ruler in a military ceremony.

But the gesture will be largely symbolic as the military leaders have granted themselves the legislative powers of the recently dissolved parliament and the final say on a new constitution.

Field Marshall Mohamed Tantawi, who has led the country since Mubarak's forced resignation, will also remain as the country's defence minister and oversee foreign and domestic security.  

The Muslim Brotherhood is still pushing for a full transition to civilian rule, setting the stage for a power struggle with the generals in the months ahead.

Mr Morsi is in the process of forming an inclusive government, and has promised to include secularists, women and Christians in key roles.

The Islamist leader has pledged to create a moderate "civic" state in Egypt in an attempt to calm the fears of many who fear religious rule.