Motlanthe sworn in as S African interim president

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 25 (Xinhua) -- Kgalema Motlanthe, deputy leader of the South African ruling African National Congress (ANC)was sworn in Thursday afternoon as the country's interim president.
The South African parliaemtn elected Motlanthe as president earlier in the day. The swearing-in came immediately after the election.
Motlanthe was elected by a majority of the votes of MPs in the National Assembly.
Accepting his election, he said he was humbled and honoured by the faith and confidence placed in him.
"I undertake this responsibility fully cognizant of the duties and responsibilities that are attached to this high office and the expectations the people of this nation rightly have of the head of state," he said.
The swearing-in was attended by a number of Cabinet ministers and VIP guests.
Motlanthe is to make a further statement in the House around 5 p.m. local time (1500GMT).
Motlanthe, 59, was elected as the general secretary of the National Union of Mine workers in 1992.
He was elected as secretary general of the ANC in 1997, and was named to cabinet in July this year.