Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi takes oath

Cairo --

Mohammed Morsi, Egypt's new Islamist president, took the oath of office Saturday before the country's top court, vowing to help build independent government institutions in a country still struggling to overcome its authoritarian past.

The 60-year-old Muslim Brotherhood politician became the country's fifth president - and its only head of state since the fall of the monarchy in 1952 who does not hail from the senior command of the armed forces.

"I will work to guarantee the independence of these powers and authorities," a solemn Morsi told the country's top jurists during a short ceremony inside the Supreme Constitutional Court.

The setting was the first concession Morsi has made since his election became official a week ago. The president had said he would only be sworn in before parliament, which the constitutional court dissolved earlier this month. But he backed down after delivering a rousing speech in Tahrir Square on Friday that was seen as a ceremonial oath before the people.

The swearing-in ceremony was held just a few blocks from a military hospital where ousted President Hosni Mubarak is reportedly receiving medical care.

Shortly after taking the oath, Morsi delivered a speech at Cairo University, during which he paid homage to the country's security forces. In contrast to the generals' marked absence from the oath ceremony, the head of the ruling council, Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, attended the speech and clapped at times.

"The SCAF has kept its word and fulfilled its promise," Morsi said of the council.

Morsi said Egypt would not seek to meddle in the affairs of other countries or attempt to export its revolution to other countries in the region. But he expressed support for Palestinian unity and for Syrians battling an autocratic government.

In this handout picture made available by the Egyptian presidency on June 30, 2012, military council chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi (L), presents the "shield of the Armed Forces" the Egyptian military's highest honor to President Mohamed Morsi (R) during a ceremony at a military base in of Cairo. Morsi was sworn in as Egypt's first freely elected civilian president on Saturday and formally received a transfer of power and pledge of support from the military, which has ruled since last year.

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