Hosni Mubarak, who won Egypt's first multi-candidate presidential elections on Sept. 7, was sworn in on Tuesday for a fifth six-year term with a firm pledge to further democratic and economic reforms.

"I swear by Almighty God to uphold the Republican system with loyalty, to respect the Constitution and the law, to look after the interests of the people fully and to safeguard the independence and territorial integrity of the motherland," Mubarak said, citing the constitutional oath.

Addressing the televised swearing-in ceremony bringing together hundreds of Egyptian lawmakers, government ministers and Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi, the 77-year-old Mubarak outlined his plan for action.

"I appeal to all the Egyptians to work together to fulfill the dream and ideal of our people," Mubarak said, "We will take a new step steadfastly and confidently to build our democracy."  

"To realize this goal, we need unite together because we are all on the same boat," he said, "The hope of building a better future has bound us all together and it is a national duty that every one of us must shoulder."

The veteran Egyptian leader vowed to push for further legislative and constitutional reform, to perfect the "democratic system" and to liberalize the economy.

During the presidential campaigns, Mubarak promised, in his fifth term, to create 4.5 million jobs for the young people, build 1,000 factories, improve living standards, upgrade government services and give special attention to the low-income class.  

As the most populous Arab country with nearly 72 million citizens, Egyptian government is facing a daunting task to offer jobs for the vast labor force.

Official figures put unemployment rate at around 9 percent, but independent estimates put it at 20 percent.

In an interview with Rose el-Youssef newspaper published on Tuesday, Mubarak said Egypt would also work on enhancing economic and trade ties with the United States and the European Union in order to boost development.

"The credibility of you (Mubarak) is not to win a landslide (in the presidential election)," said Gehad Auda, head of political science department of Cairo's Helwan University, "It lies in your capability to implement the promises."

The current cabinet, headed by technocrat Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef, will announce its resignation after the presidential swearing-in ceremony, but Mubarak is expected to ask the ministers to stay until the parliamentary elections in November.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2005)