6 Jan 2009

Tanis sworn in as new president of PNG's Bougainville province

3:59 pm on 6 January 2009

Papua New Guinea's autonomous Bougainville region has begun the swearing-in ceremony of its newly-elected president, James Tanis, who was elected last month.

The former Bougainville Revolutionary Army commander is Bougainville's second president after Joseph Kabui who died last June.

Bougainvilleans from all corners of the island have arrived in traditional costumes in the former capital, Arawa, for his inauguration.

Mr Tanis, who is from Panam Village in Lamane, on the border of South and Central Bougainville, was a key player in forging the 2001 peace agreement to end the long-running civil war.