Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as president on Friday, continuing his rule from a civilian post five years after seizing power in a military coup.
"I will dedicate myself to the service of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar," said Min Aung Hlaing, reading aloud the presidential oath at a parliamentary ceremony in the capital Naypyidaw.
Min Aung Hlaing's armed forces swept aside democracy in 2021 -- detaining the massively popular elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and sparking a civil war.
After ruling by diktat for half a decade, he oversaw a highly restricted election excluding Suu Kyi's party and delivering a walkover win for the military's allies in civilian politics in January.
MPs overwhelmingly voted for Min Aung Hlaing to serve as their president and he has retired as armed forces chief to take the role in a transition democracy watchdogs deride as a civilian rebranding of military rule.
Source: AFP