Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was sworn in Sunday for a third term in office, promising to continue his policy of national reconciliation.
In a speech after taking the oath of office, Mr. Bouteflika expressed hope that the reconciliation process will bring peace to a country torn by an Islamist insurgency.
Mr. Bouteflika won the presidential election held earlier this month with more than 90 percent of the vote. But two of Algeria's major opposition parties boycotted the polls to protest a change in the constitution that allowed Mr. Bouteflika to run for a third term.
The president first came to power in 1999, helping end the country's decade-long civil war that has left more than 150,000 people dead. He was re-elected in 2004.
Thousands of armed insurgents turned themselves in under his reconciliation policy.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.