New Nigerian president sworn in

Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as president of Nigeria today, hours after the death of the country’s elected leader.

Jonathan, who had been serving as acting president of Africa’s most populous nation since early February, took the oath just after 9am (8am Irish Time) at the presidential villa.

President Umaru Yar’Adua, who had a long history of kidney ailments and recently suffered from an inflamed heart, died yesterday. His funeral is to take place this afternoon in his home state of Katsina.

Mr Yar’Adua’s death came less than a year away from the next presidential elections in an oil-rich country once plagued by military coups.

Under Nigeria’s constitution, Mr Jonathan now remains in charge until the vote.