Mohamed Morsi sworn in as Egypt’s president

Islamist Mohamed Morsi was sworn in before Egypt’s highest court in Cairo on Saturday as the country’s first freely elected president to succeed Hosni Mubarak who was ousted 16 months ago in a popular uprising, RIA Novosti reports.

The former leader of the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood pledged before Egypt’s Supreme Court to defend the country’s republican system, sovereignty, independence and integrity, safeguard the interests of the Egyptian people, observe the Constitution and national laws.

After taking the oath, Morsi officially started to perform his functions as the head of state.