Liberia: Businessman Mr Gyude Bryant was installed as Liberia's interim leader yesterday, cementing a fragile peace deal and paving the way for elections in two years, writes Declan Walsh
Mr Bryant's authority will be bolstered by a 15,000-strong UN peacekeeping force, currently assembling in Monrovia and due to include 430 Irish troops.
The first - heavily armed - UN soldiers watched as a black-suited Mr Bryant (54) swore his oath in Monrovia's battered Capitol building in front of several African presidents.
Liberia's new chairman - not president - was chosen by warring factions in August, after intense international pressure sent President Charles Taylor into exile.
Yesterday, Mr Taylor denied accusations he was continuing to meddle in Liberian politics from his new home in Nigeria.
Mr Bryant, a former heavy-equipment dealer, is a long-time opponent of the warlords responsible for 14 years of strife in the West African country.
He will chair a transitional, power-sharing government until elections scheduled for 2005. The task - to rebuild a hollowed-out country and help disarm legions of volatile gunmen - is a mammoth one.
Monrovia lies gutted following a bloody siege last June and July that left over 1,000 civilians dead. Water, food and electricity remain scarce.
The situation is even worse in the countryside, where entire villages lie empty and roaming gangs of fighters - notorious for their drug-fuelled excesses - continue to rob, rape and pillage.
Aid agencies still cannot access much of the country, three-quarters of which remains under rebel control. The UN mission should reach full strength by early next year, when Irish troops are due to arrive.
Bangladesh is one of the main troop contributors.
Imposing peace may be difficult - since war broke out in 1989, Liberians have seen a dozen peace accords brokered, then broken. The most difficult task will be to disarm tens of thousands of mostly teenage gunmen and women. Many of the battle-hardened militia say they want to return to normal life, but lack education, skills and discipline.
International and UN leaders have repeatedly warned that Mr Taylor is trying to scupper the peace by continuing to manipulate political and military allies in Liberia.