Bolivia's new president sworn in

Evo Morales was sworn in as Bolivia's new president in a ceremony before the National Congress on Sunday.

In an inaugural speech, Morales said that he will fight for the Latin American Indian life rights and development.

"We have the right to fight for the whole. Our future has cost blood. It is necessary to end the colonial model, the neo-liberal model", said he.

He promised to abolish the Andean nation's colonial past, increase state control of its vast natural resources and ease poverty.

Evo Morales was sworn in his presidency at a special ceremony which began from 13:30 (1730 GMT).

On Saturday, Evo Morales was crowned supreme chief of Andean Indians in an elaborate traditional Indian spiritual ceremony at an ancient Indian temple.

Morales was born in 1959 in an indigenous family in Isallavi, Bolivia, and finished 11th grade in high school. He worked as a herdsman and a farmer in his early years and joined the military service at age of 16.

In October 2003, Morales was instrumental in leading mass protests that led to the resignation of former president Sanchez de Lozada in the so-called "gas wars."

He won the presidential election of Bolivia with 53.7 percent of the vote on Dec. 18, 2005.

Profile: Bolivian President Evo Morales

The following is a profile of the first indigenous president in Bolivia's history.

Morales was born in 1959 in an indigenous family in Isallavi, Bolivia, and finished 11th grade in high school. He worked as a herdsman and a farmer in his early years and joined the military service at age of 16.

Morales was executive secretary of Tropic Federation coca growers' union in 1988, executive secretary and president of Six Federations of the Cochabamba Tropics coca growers' union in 1996. He was elected to the congress in 1997.

In 2002, he ran for the presidency representing the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), currently the country's main political group. He finished closely behind conservative Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, who became president.

In October 2003, Morales was instrumental in leading mass protests that led to the resignation of former President Sanchez de Lozada in the so-called "gas wars."

He won the presidential election of Bolivia with 53.7 percent of the vote on Dec. 18, 2005.

Morales in his campaign promises to end neo-liberalism, legalize the cultivation of the coca leaf and nationalize the oil and gas industry.

Source: Xinhua