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Barack Obama sworn in as 44th US President

(CCTV.com)
Updated: 2009-01-21 10:16

Barack Obama has been sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on the west front of the US Capitol.

He's made history as the first African-American to hold that office. In his inaugural speech, the new president called on citizens to begin the work of "remaking America."

The Washington Mall was a sea of celebration.

With his hand on the same Bible that was used to swear in Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama took the oath of office as a president.

In his inaugural speech, Obama said the nation is in the midst of crisis, and urged people to be confident and united in face of the challenges.

Barack Obama, US President, said, "Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met."

The new president put reviving the economy as the top priority. He blamed irresponsibility for damaging the US economy, and urged Americans to embark a new era of responsibility.

Barack Obama, US President, said, "For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth."

On foreign policy, Obama said his new administration will seek "greater cooperation and understanding between nations." Withdrawing from Iraq is on the list.

Barack Obama, US President, said, "We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet."

His new set of foreign policies also includes helping poor nations and "a new way forward" in developing relations with the Muslim world.