Essebsi sworn in as Tunisia's president

(Anadolu News Agency)- Beji Caid Essebsi on Wednesday took the constitutional oath as Tunisia's first democratically-elected President following a 2011 revolution that ousted autocrat Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Essebsi, who served as a parliament speaker under Ben Ali, defeated incumbent interim President Moncef Marzouki in the presidential runoff on December 21.

Essebsi, the leader of the centrist Nidaa Tounes Party, won 55.68 percent of the votes.

The new president is due to start his official tenure on January 14.