Sheinbaum takes office as Mexico's first woman president

MEXICO CITY (AFP)

Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in Tuesday as Mexico's first woman president, inheriting a country beset by gang violence and economic uncertainty over controversial reforms passed by her powerful ruling party.

To cries of "Long live Claudia! Long live Mexico!" the 62-year-old former Mexico City mayor took the oath of office and received the presidential sash in Congress, with foreign dignitaries looking on, including US First Lady Jill Biden.

Sheinbaum told cheering lawmakers that, for the first time, "women have arrived to shape the destiny of our beautiful nation,".

She was later due to attend a celebration in Mexico City's main square as leader of the world's most populous Spanish-speaking country, home to 129 million people, which has had 65 male presidents since independence.

Supporters began gathering from dawn on inauguration day, which authorities declared a national holiday.