Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing Sworn In as President

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar - Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as president on Friday, marking his transition to a civilian role five years after he orchestrated a coup that ousted the elected government and sparked a nationwide civil war.

The 69-year-old, who resigned as commander-in-chief of the armed forces last month, took the oath of office during a parliamentary ceremony in the capital, attended by more than 50 foreign guests, including representatives from China, India, and Thailand. He pledged to uphold justice, liberty, and equality while dedicating himself to serving the Republic of the Union of Myanmar for a five-year term. The event occurred under tight security, with bomb squads patrolling hotels and checkpoints surrounding the parliament building.

Min Aung Hlaing's ascension follows a parliamentary election he won decisively last week, after a military-backed party secured a landslide victory in voting that ran from late December to late January. The poll excluded the party of detained Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who led the pre-coup government, and barred opposition groups and ethnic minorities from participating. No voting took place in large...