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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 23 January 2018

Liberia swears in ex-soccer star George Weah as new leader

By JON LAYLEH government to another in
Associated Press more than 70 years.
MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Many of Weah’s critics are
Former international soc- still skeptical about his abil-
cer star George Weah was ity to deliver in a country
sworn in as Liberia’s new that is faced with youth
president Monday, tak- unemployment and other
ing over the impoverished challenges. His running
West African nation from mate, Vice President-Elect
Africa’s first female leader. Jewel Howard-Taylor, has
The 51-year-old, who was political experience that
FIFA’s 1995 player of the surpasses his. She was mar-
year, took the oath of of- ried to the nation’s former
fice dressed in all white at leader Charles Taylor dur-
the Samuel Kanyon Doe ing his time in power. Af-
Sports Complex to cheers ter they divorced, she was
from tens of thousands Li- elected senator in 2005,
berians. building a political career
“I fully believe that the over- in her own right.
whelming mandate that I Thousands of people
received from the Liberian stormed the sports stadium
people is a mandate to early Monday to see the
end corruption in public new president sworn in.
service; I promise to deliver Liberia’s New President George Weah, arrives for his Inauguration ceremony in Monrovia, Liberia, Weah’s new government
Monday. Jan, 22, 2018. Former international soccer star Weah was sworn into office Monday as
on this mandate,” he said. Liberia’s new president, taking over from Africa’s first female leader of this post-war, impoverished should launch a “self-suf-
“As officials of government West African nation. ficiency in food program”
it is time to put the interest (AP Photo/Abbas Dulleh) to boost agriculture and
of our people above our “I do not promise you quick with his predecessor, Nobel Liberia’s flag was lowered tackle the problem of un-
own selfish interests. It is fixes or miracles. Instead Peace Prize winner Ellen and folded to signify the employment, said James
time to be honest with our my pledge to you today Johnson Sirleaf, who was end of the presidency for Mulbah, an agricultural ex-
people.” is that my administration, president for 12 years, lifting Sirleaf, who stood with tension expert.
Weah, who has been a with your help, will make Liberia from the destruction Weah on a raised platform. “Any country that does
senator and run for Liberia’s steady and deliver prog- of back-to-back civil wars A new flag was unfolded not feed itself, you are at
presidency before but is rel- ress toward achieving the and facing the challenge and hoisted to signify the the mercy of those that will
atively new to national poli- hopes and aspirations that of the Ebola crisis that killed start of Weah’s new admin- feed you, that has been
tics, inherits a weak econo- you cherish in your heart for thousands here. istration. the problem in this country
my along with poor health Mama Liberia,” he said. After Chief Justice Francis S. This is Liberia’s first peaceful and it has continued to ex-
and educational sectors. Weah then switched seats Korkpor, Sr., swore in Weah, transfer of power from one ist,” he said.q

Philippine volcano explodes, villagers flee back to shelters

By JIM GOMEZ Mount Mayon’s slopes and pi city outside the danger
Associated Press shrouded nearby villages in zone. But Monday’s blast
MANILA, Philippines (AP) darkness, Renato Solidum sent nearly 12,000 fleeing
— The Philippines’ most of the Philippine Institute of back to evacuation cen-
active volcano ejected a Seismology and Volcanol- ters, raising the number of
huge column of lava frag- ogy and other officials said. people in those shelters to
ments, ash and smoke in a From the crater, the deadly more than 30,000, Yucot
thunderous explosion Mon- debris billowed about three said. Authorities on Mon-
day, sending thousands of kilometers (1.8 miles) down day raised the alert level
villagers back to evacua- on the southern plank of to four on a scale of five,
tion centers and prompt- Mayon toward a no-entry which means an explosive
ing a warning that a violent danger zone. There were eruption is possible within
eruption may be imminent. no immediate reports of hours or days. A danger
The midday explosion sent deaths or injuries, officials zone around Mayon was
superheated lava, molten said. Due to its relatively A huge column of ash shoots up to the sky during the eruption of expanded to 8 kilometers
rocks and steam between gentle eruption last week, Mayon volcano Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 as seen from Legazpi city, (5 miles) from the crater,
3.5 to 5 kilometers (2 to 3 thousands left emergency Albay province, around 340 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of which means thousands of
miles) into the blue sky, and shelters and returned to Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Earl Recamunda) villagers will have to leave
then some cascaded down their communities in Legaz- their homes, officials said.q