Saturday, January 15 2005 17:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ramallah: Mahmud Abbas was formally sworn in as Yasser Arafat's successor as President of the Palestinian Authority today (Jan 15, 2005) at a ceremony in Parliament in Ramallah.

Abbas swore to "safeguard the interests of the Palestinian people" as he placed his hand on a copy of the Koran.

Parliament speaker Rawhi Fattuh, who has been caretaker head of the Palestinian Authority since Arafat's death on November 11, then resumed his post.