Rene Preval sworn in as new president

(15 May 2006)
1. Various of people celebrating outside parliament
2. Jeb Bush, Florida Governor enters parliament hall
3. Various of inauguration guests
4. US (African American) actor Danny Glover with two women wearing hats
5. Rene Preval approaches podium
6. Audience clapping
7. Rene Preval
8. Audience
9. Preval receiving sash
10. Preval leaves parliament
11. Supporters outside
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Wimhurst, UN spokesman:
"For the first time, you know the Haitians now have a democratic government that will be able to manage the country's affairs. On the down side, the public treasury is empty, so we have a lot of high expectations out there among Haitians who want to see improvement in their life and quite rightly so, this is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, as everybody knows and everybody repeats. What really needs to happen now is massive support by the international community for the administration of Mr Preval as president, so that he can actually start to spend money and begin to make that difference."
13. Various of UN police on roof of prison breaking up prisoners' protest
STORYLINE:
Rene Preval, the only elected Haitian president to finish a five-year term, was sworn in on Sunday to again lead the impoverished nation in its latest attempt at democracy after decades of armed uprisings, lawlessness and foreign intervention.
Preval, who took the oath of office in a sweltering, packed Parliament chamber, donned Haiti's red and blue presidential sash and waved as some 300 newly installed legislators and foreign dignitaries gave him a standing ovation.
Those on hand included Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean and Hollywood actor Danny Glover.
The inauguration was the final step in Haiti's return to democratic rule two years after a bloody revolt ousted former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and plunged the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation into chaos.
Preval, a former Aristide ally and champion of Haiti's poor, has pledged to unite the country and restore the peace which vanished in the aftermath of the February 2004 bloody revolt.
"The Haitians now have a democratic government that will be able to manage the country's affairs. On the down side, the public treasury is empty," UN spokesman David Wimhurst said.
The 63-year-old agronomist, who ruled Haiti from 1996 to 2001, will have to overcome big challenges, including a corrupt state bureaucracy, a wrecked economy, widespread insecurity and the plight of prisoners.
Hours before the inauguration, prisoners rioted at Haiti's national penitentiary, about a half-mile (kilometre) from the parliament building.
There was no official word on casualties though scores of inmates massed on the roof, holding what appeared to be two dead bodies.
Haiti's capital was gripped by a wave of kidnappings and killings after Aristide's ouster, but officials say violent crime has dropped sharply since Preval's victory in the February 7 election.
Experts say Preval's skills at governing and healing Haiti's deep social rifts will largely determine whether the former French colony will move toward stability or remain mired in turmoil and despair.

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