The interim Iraqi government was officially sworn in on Monday, hours after taking over sovereignty from the US-led coalition.

Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar and Prime Minister Iyad Allawi took their oaths before a senior Iraqi judge, followed by the rest of the cabinet members.

Yawar was warmly congratulated by Allawi, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih and one of the two vice presidents, Ibrahim Jaffari of the Shiite Dawa Party.

"Before us there is a challenge and a burden and we ask God almighty to give us patience," Yawar said at the ceremony after taking his oath.

"I will preserve the independence of Iraq," said Yawar. "May God protect Iraq and its citizens."

Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi placed his hand on the Quran and then promised to lead his people to a better future.

Allawi delivered a speech outlining his goals for the forthcoming period.

He urged people not to be afraid of the "outlaws" fighting against "Islam and Muslims," and assured them that "God is with us."

"I warn the forces of terror once again," he said firmly. "We will not forget who stood with us and against us in this crisis."

The handover of power to the new interim Iraqi government was forwarded two days before June 30, the original date set for power handover in Iraq, in a bid to surprise insurgents and prevent them from trying to sabotage the step toward self-rule.

Allawi warned members of Saddam's former Ba'ath Party to abandon insurgency.

"I warn those Ba'athists who have not committed crimes in the past to stay away from the mercenaries of Saddam Hussein," Allawi said, urging Iraqis to report any suspicious activity to the country's newly sovereign authorities.

Allawi, himself is an ex-Ba'athist, called for expanding the army after the US-led coalition disbanded the old Iraqi army last year and fueled the discontent among them.

However, he pledged to bring all foreign fighters in Iraq to justice.

"The mercenaries come from different countries ... be on the look out for them. We will chase them to justice to get their fair punishment," Allawi said at the ceremony.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2004)