Central African Republic's new president to be sworn in

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) - Central African Republic's newly elected president is to be sworn into office today, an important landmark for the long volatile country.

Faustin Archange Touadera, a former math professor and prime minister, won the presidential runoff on Feb. 14 with nearly 63 percent of the vote.

Touadera, a Christian, has vowed to focus on unifying the country that was torn apart by sectarian violence between Christians and Muslim fighters that exploded in late 2013. He emerged from a wide field of candidates following a transitional period when an interim president led the country for two years after a Muslim rebel leader who had seized power by force stepped aside.

Wednesday's inauguration is another important step toward stabilizing Central African Republic, where both rounds of voting took place under largely peaceful conditions.