Cristina Fernandez was sworn in on Monday as president of Argentina for a four-year period in a ceremony in the nation's legislature attended by heads of state and special guests.

"I swear before God, the nation and on the holy scriptures that I will perform my duties as president of the nation," she said in the ceremony that formally makes her president.

Following her oath she received the presidential sash from Nestor Kirchner, the outgoing president who is also her husband.

In her first speech as president, Fernandez praised her husband, saying she receives the nation in much better shape than when he took power on May 25, 2003. She said he had rebuilt the nation following political and economic turbulence during his four and a half years of rule.

Fernandez, 54, said she backed Kirchner's convictions: defending Argentines' interests as the basis for development.

Attending ceremony were the following presidents: Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Bolivia's President Evo Morales, Chile's Michelle Bachelet, Colombia's Alvaro Uribe, Ecuador's Rafael Correa, Paraguay's Nicanor Duarte, Uruguay's Tabare Vazquez and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.

Also attending were Mexico's Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa; Spain's crown prince Felipe de Borbon, Canada's Governor General Michael Jean, and United States Labor Minister Eliane Chao.

After the ceremony, Fernandez will go to the Casa Rosada seat of government and then take part in the Mayo Place Democracy Festival.

(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2007)