MONROVIA: Gyude Bryant, a low-profile businessman, took office as Liberia's new leader yesterday and will seek to disarm roving bands of fighters and rebuild the West African country after nearly 14 years of war.

Tens of thousands of people swamped the streets of the battle-scarred capital Monrovia on Monday to welcome home Bryant, who was picked by warring factions after ex-President Charles Taylor flew into exile in August.

"The expectations of the people are high and we need to deliver. We intend to deliver," said Harry Greaves, an aide to the new leader.

Bryant, 54, was sworn in at 11 am, guarded by troops from a United Nations (UN) force that is building up into the world's biggest UN peacekeeping effort.

Leaders of two rebel factions were at the ceremony under tight UN security to prevent a repeat of violence like that which left four people dead when one rebel leader tried to come to Monrovia earlier this month.

Bryant was picked as a neutral consensus builder, seen as someone who could manage likely tensions within a government that will bring in rebels, Taylor loyalists and civilian politicians.

An even bigger task will be disarming thousands of young fighters inured to murder, rape and pillage. After that, the government will seek to get hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians home and pave the way for elections in 2005.

More than 200,000 people have perished during fighting since 1989.

Agencies via Xinhua

(China Daily 10/15/2003 page1)