Mexican president sworn in amid protests

Enrique Pena Nieto has taken the oath of office as Mexico’s new president, bringing the old ruling party back to power after a 12-year hiatus.

His Institutional Revolutionary Party ruled for 71 years with a mix of populist handouts, graft and rigged elections before being voted out and replaced by the conservative National Action Party in 2000.

Mr Pena Nieto has promised to govern democratically with transparency.

His swearing in was marred by protesters outside the Congress lobbing home-made bombs and firecrackers and shouting: “Mexico without the PRI!”

Before the swearing in, leftist congressmen inside the chambers demanded to know what was going on in the crowds and urged police to use restraint. Congressman Rafael Huerta of the Labour Party urged the new government to protect the people.