Obama sworn in as 44th US President

Obama sworn in as 44th US President
Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:58:04 GMT


Barack Hussein Obama has taken the oath of office to become the 44th -- and first African-American -- president of the United States.

In the freezing cold, hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in front of the Capitol to welcome Obama as the forty-fourth President of the US on Tuesday.


Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.

In his inaugural address, President Obama called on his fellow Americans to join him in confronting what he described as an economic crisis.

"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real," said the US president. "But know this, America -- they will be met."

He also promised of "even greater cooperation and understanding between nations" under his administration as well as "a new way forward" in developing relations with the Muslim world.

"To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect."