Saleh hands over power to Yemen's new president

Author: Nehal El-Sherif

   Sana'a (dpa) - Yemen inaugurated Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi as president on Monday, officially ending Ali Abdullah Saleh's 33-year reign.

   "I now hand over the flag of the revolution, the republic, freedom, security to safe hands," said Saleh as he handed the Yemeni flag to Hadi in a symbolic gesture during the ceremony.
  
   Hadi was sworn into office on Saturday, after he received 99.8 per cent of the vote in last week's presidential election, in which he was the sole candidate.

   "We are laying a new base for a peaceful transfer of power in Yemen," said Hadi during the ceremony in the presidential complex in the capital Sana'a.

    The biggest challenge facing Hadi will be to re-establish security.

   Militant groups with possible links to al-Qaeda are believed to have extended control of areas in southern Yemen, taking advantage of a weak central government and a year of protests against Saleh.

   Violence has gripped Yemen since January 2011, when thousands of people, inspired by the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, took to the streets to demand Saleh's ouster.

   Hadi, who served as Saleh’s deputy for some 17 years, said that Yemen now faced a complicated and difficult path, and called on all parties to cooperate with the new leadership.

   According to the Gulf-brokered power transfer deal, which Saleh signed in November, Hadi and a national unity government will lead the country for two years.

   "I hope we will gather again in this hall to say farewell to an old leadership and welcome a new one," Hadi said, standing next to Saleh.

   Around 30,000 people took to the streets in Sana'a and the southwestern city of Ibb to protest against Saleh's presence at the ceremony.

   Saleh on Friday returned from the United States where he received medical treatment.

   "We will continue to support the president to rebuild what the crisis has destroyed," said Saleh, who retains his post as the head of his General People's Congress party. "We call on all fellow countrymen to stand beside the political leadership."

   The opposition Joint Meeting Parties coalition boycotted the ceremony because of Saleh's presence.

   Saleh had agreed to relinquish power to Hadi in exchange for immunity from prosecution.