Ivory Coast president inaugurated

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    21 May 2011 Last updated at 09:36 ET

    Alassane Ouattara has been formally inaugurated as Ivory Coast’s president.

    The ceremony in Yamoussoukro aimed to draw a line under six months of bloody unrest.

    Fighting broke out after Mr Ouattara’s predecessor, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to admit defeat following last year’s presidential election.

    Mr Ouattara has promised to promote reconciliation in the country, where ethnic divisions are marked.

    The guest list included Nicolas Sarkozy, president of the former colonial power France, several African heads of state and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

    Representatives from across the political spectrum were invited, including members of Mr Gbagbo’s party.

    Mr Ouattara took the oath of office two weeks ago.

    The BBC’s Barbara Plett said the ceremony was designed to reinforce Mr Ouattara’s legitimacy as president after a violent power struggle with Mr Gbagbo, and to symbolise the beginning of a reconciliation process regarded as key to the country’s recovery.

    She adds that Mr Ouattara is keenly aware that he won only a little more than half the vote, and the presidential stand-off reignite festering ethnic tensions, with human rights groups accusing both sides of killings, rape and other crimes.

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    Ivory Coast president inaugurated