Mohamed Mursi was on Saturday June 30, 2012 sworn in as Egypt's first civilian, democratically elected President at a historic ceremony in the capital, Cairo. 

Mohamed Mursi was on Saturday June 30, 2012 sworn in as Egypt's first civilian, democratically elected President at a historic ceremony in the capital, Cairo. In a speech at Cairo University, the Moslem Brotherhood politician vowed to raise Egypt to the rank of a modern State where the President is the servant of his people.
The new leader promised that Egypt will support the Palestinian people until they regain all their legitimate rights, stressing his country’s respect for international conventions and agreements. On the local scene, he said elected institutions will return to fulfilling their roles while the military will devote itself to the task of protecting the country. He said Egypt was in acute need of every hand to build a bright future, Al Arabiya newspaper said.
The SCAF handed over power to Mursi after a military parade at the Hykestep Military Base on the outskirts of Cairo. Its leader, Field Marshal Tantawi said they had fulfilled their promise which was made before God to hand over power. He stressed that Egypt now had a new President who was elected through a free and direct vote reflecting the will of the people.
Field Marshal saluted President Mursi and shook hands with him several times and afterwards decorated the new president with the Shield of the Armed Forces, the country's highest honour.
The ceremony took place in the Constitutional Court. Unlike in the days of Hosni Mubarak, Mohamed Mursi did not demand the streets should be closed as he made his way through the day of formalities and speeches. During his inaugural address at Cairo University, he even apologised to students whose exams had to be postponed because of the ceremony.
Earlier in a speech before tens of thousands of supporters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square - the epicenter of the revolt that ousted President Hosni Mubarak - on Friday June 29, President Mursi said he would insist on retaining all presidential powers. He said the people were the source of power and legitimacy and that there was no place for anyone or any institution above that will.
Aged 60, Mohamed Mursi is married with four children. The US-educated engineering professor who teaches at Zagazig University, hails from a village in the Nile Delta province of Sharqiya. He rose through the ranks of the Moslem Brotherhood and has been praised for his oratory as a Member of Parliament. He became chairman of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party last year.