New president takes office in Guatemala

New president takes office in Guatemala Alvaro Colom, an industrial engineer who gained attention for his efforts to get war refugees back home after Guatemala's long civil war ended in 1996, was sworn in as the country's new president Monday.
   Colom is considered to be a leftist — the first to become president in Guatemala in 50 years. But he said Monday that each country must 'find its own path,' and that he would consult with his country's business leaders before making moves like accepting an offer from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to provide oil to Guatemala on preferential terms, according to an Associated Press report.
   Colom replaces Oscar Berger, a traditional pro-business leader who left office with more than half the populace living on less than $1 a day. Colom defeated Gen. Otto Perez in a November election, garnering 52 percent of the vote.
   Colom said his goals as president include a broad social agenda of improved schools, medical facilities and the creation of jobs. He said he would also focus on reducing crime and improving security. Guatemala has experienced a crime wave in which crime gangs behead their enemies and drug traffickers are believed to be in control of much of the police forces, the report noted.