DILI — Former guerrilla leader and ex-army chief Taur Matan Ruak was sworn in as East Timor’s new president Saturday as the young democracy, devastated by decades of conflict, celebrates 10 years of independence.

Ruak takes over from Jose Ramos-Horta, a Nobel laureate whose international stature injected prominence to the largely ceremonial role, ahead of independence day celebrations on Sunday.

Police tightened security in the streets of the capital Dili ahead of the ceremonies, where invited guests include Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Australia’s governor general and Portugal’s president.

Last-minute preparations included workers cleaning the road to the airport and weeding street-side flower beds as children sold flags to passing cars. Some children were seen waving Portuguese flags — a reminder of the nation’s colonial past.

This is a crucial year for the country of 1.1 million also known as Timor-Leste. It will choose a new prime minister and government in general elections on July 7, then at year’s end will bid goodbye to UN forces stationed since 1999.

Ruak, 55, won a run-off election last month that was widely lauded as peaceful and fair.

He takes over a country that is hobbled by extreme poverty, corruption and an over-reliance on energy revenues. — AFP