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Obama vows to meet US challenges | Obama vows to meet US challenges |
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US President Barack Obama has used his inaugural address to pledge a "new era of responsibility" in a time of crisis at home and abroad. | |
Mr Obama spoke after taking the oath of office as America's 44th president - and its first African-American leader. | Mr Obama spoke after taking the oath of office as America's 44th president - and its first African-American leader. |
More than one million people gathered in the National Mall in a wintry Washington DC, to see Mr Obama take the oath shortly after 1200 (1700 GMT). | More than one million people gathered in the National Mall in a wintry Washington DC, to see Mr Obama take the oath shortly after 1200 (1700 GMT). |
He later joined a parade, smiling and waving en route to the White House. | He later joined a parade, smiling and waving en route to the White House. |
Mr Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama travelled in the armoured presidential limousine as the motorcade travelled at walking-pace towards 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. See map showing key sites of Inauguration Day | Mr Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama travelled in the armoured presidential limousine as the motorcade travelled at walking-pace towards 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. See map showing key sites of Inauguration Day |
Crowds cheered and waved as the cars rolled slowly past. | Crowds cheered and waved as the cars rolled slowly past. |
Then the motorcade stopped and the couple stepped out of the car and walked, waving to the hundreds of wellwishers lining the route - many of whom had waited 10 hours in the cold.The Obamas looked happy and relaxed as they approached the White House | Then the motorcade stopped and the couple stepped out of the car and walked, waving to the hundreds of wellwishers lining the route - many of whom had waited 10 hours in the cold.The Obamas looked happy and relaxed as they approached the White House |
After climbing back inside the limousine - so heavily armoured it is known as The Beast - the president and first lady emerged once again amid loud cheers and screams from the crowd. | After climbing back inside the limousine - so heavily armoured it is known as The Beast - the president and first lady emerged once again amid loud cheers and screams from the crowd. |
The BBC's Gavin Hewitt, in the crowd on the parade route, said the happy and smiling Mr and Mrs Obama finally seemed able to celebrate their achievement. | The BBC's Gavin Hewitt, in the crowd on the parade route, said the happy and smiling Mr and Mrs Obama finally seemed able to celebrate their achievement. |
Many thousands of people who braved the cold to stand for hours in the streets to catch a glimpse of Mr Obama will be able to go home happy, our correspondent says. | Many thousands of people who braved the cold to stand for hours in the streets to catch a glimpse of Mr Obama will be able to go home happy, our correspondent says. |
After reviewing the inaugural parade as it marches past the White House, the couple were due to attend a series of balls. | |
Meanwhile, Senator Ted Kennedy, whose collapse during an inaugural lunch at Congress threatened to mar the celebrations, is said to be feeling well again after suffering "simple fatigue". | |
New team | |
Barack Hussein Obama became America's newest president at a ceremony on the steps of the Capitol building where, his hand on a Bible, he repeated the traditional oath of office, promising to "preserve, protect and defend" the United States. | |
America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child... [and] we are ready to lead once more Barack ObamaPresident of the United States class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/obama_inauguration/7840646.stm">Full text and video: Obama speech class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/obama_inauguration/7839486.stm">BBC correspondents: World hopes class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7840306.stm">In pictures: Obama inauguration class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/obama_inauguration/7840987.stm">Obama offers new era | |
In his speech, he acknowledged that he faced many serious challenges but pledged to begin the work of "rebuilding America". | |
He also spoke of his desire to usher in a new era of peace and of America's readiness to lead once more. | |
In one of the administration's first moves, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel asked all federal agencies and departments to stop any pending regulations pending a review. | |
The US Senate approved six members of the new cabinet on Tuesday. | |
Among those confirmed in their posts were Janet Napolitano as homeland security secretary and Steven Chu as energy secretary. | |
However, Hillary Clinton's approval as secretary of state was postponed after a republican senator demanded a debate beforehand about foreign donations to a foundation headed by her husband, former President Bill Clinton. | |
That debate is due on Wednesday and Mrs Clinton's nomination is now expected to be confirmed in a vote immediately afterwards. | |
Giant web event | |
The Associated Press estimates that about one million people attended the inauguration, based on a visual comparison with past events in the city. href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_obama_inauguration_crowds/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_obama_inauguration_crowds/html/1.stm', '1232469933', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Crowds at the inauguration of Barack Obama describe their experiences href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_obama_inauguration_crowds/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_obama_inauguration_crowds/html/1.stm', '1232469933', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures | |
Millions more Americans watched the inauguration online through live video streaming across their computers, the agency says. | |
It notes that essentially every major news outlet offered live feeds on what was potentially the most web-driven coverage of a significant news event yet. | |
Tens of millions more people watched the inauguration on television across the world and Obama fans in other countries had their own celebrations. | |
In Barack Obama's Kenyan ancestral village, Kogelo, thousands danced under a massive banner which simply read "Congratulations our son, our hope". | |
While many from the Obama family were in Washington to witness the swearing-in, their neighbours were watching it on massive TV screens, the BBC's Karen Allen reports. | |
"We expect that Obama is going to change the world and as Kenyans we are going to follow in Obama's footsteps and change the world," said one woman. | |
INAUGURATION DAY 1. 1700GMT/1200EST Obama is inaugurated as US president on the West Front Lawn of the Capitol building2. Obama escorts former President George W Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on the presidential procession prior to their departure3. 1920GMT/1420EST Parade starts along Pennsylvania Avenue4. Obama will review troops from behind a bullet-proof screen in Lafayette Park, behind the White House 5. President Obama and the First Lady will attend a series of celebration balls, returning to the White House at 0725GMT/0225EST Wednesday More inauguration maps | INAUGURATION DAY 1. 1700GMT/1200EST Obama is inaugurated as US president on the West Front Lawn of the Capitol building2. Obama escorts former President George W Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney on the presidential procession prior to their departure3. 1920GMT/1420EST Parade starts along Pennsylvania Avenue4. Obama will review troops from behind a bullet-proof screen in Lafayette Park, behind the White House 5. President Obama and the First Lady will attend a series of celebration balls, returning to the White House at 0725GMT/0225EST Wednesday More inauguration maps |
Return to top | Return to top |
Are you in Washington for the inauguration? Have you been watching the event elsewhere? Did you travel to see the swearing-in of Barack Obama? Tell us about how you have seen the inauguration by filling in the form below. | Are you in Washington for the inauguration? Have you been watching the event elsewhere? Did you travel to see the swearing-in of Barack Obama? Tell us about how you have seen the inauguration by filling in the form below. |
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