MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New Haiti president takes office

Rene Preval, the only elected president in Haiti's history to finish his term, was sworn in Sunday to again lead the impoverished nation in its latest attempt at democracy after decades of armed uprisings, lawlessness and foreign intervention.

Preval took the oath of office in a sweltering, packed Parliament chamber, and the Senate leader placed on him the presidential sash of Haiti's national colors ? blue and red.

Afterward, he stood and waved as about 300 legislators and foreign dignitaries, including Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean and the actor Danny Glover, gave him a standing ovation.

The inauguration was the final step in Haiti's return to democratic rule two years after a bloody revolt ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and plunged the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation into chaos.

In his inaugural address later outside the national palace, Preval urged unity among Haiti's fractured society and a return to peace after the February 2004 revolt.

"We need to make peace through dialogue and talking to each other so we can decide where we want to go together," said Preval. "If we don't talk, then we will only fight and there will be no peace."

Thousands cheered Preval, pressing up against the green iron gates surrounding the palace and waving Haitian flags as dozens of U.N. peacekeepers stood guard. Others danced and sang as traditional bands snaked through the crowd playing homemade horns and drums.

Preval urged Haitians to help maintain security so the country could create jobs, build roads and hospitals and move forward "without the presence of foreign troops."

"Haitian people, the solution to our problems is in our hands," he said. "Please help me, help the country, help yourself."

Preval, who previously governed Haiti in 1996-2001 and replaces a U.S.-backed interim government appointed after the revolt, is a former Aristide ally and champion of Haiti's poor.

The 63-year-old agronomist has pledged to unite the country's fractured society and restore peace, but he faces big challenges, including a corrupt state bureaucracy, a wrecked economy, roiling insecurity and the plight of prisoners.

In his first official act, Preval signed an accord integrating Haiti into a Venezuelan oil pact that supplies Caribbean countries with fuel under preferential terms. In a joint statement with Preval, Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said Haiti would receive 100,000 barrels of oil on Monday as its first shipment.