New President Of Honduras Sworn In

New Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez (L), accompanied by his wife Ana Garcia, receives the presidential sash from Congress prersident Mauricio Oliva, during his inauguration on January 27, 2014. (AFP/Orlando Sierra)

News Americas, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Tues. Jan. 28, 2014: Juan Orlando Hernandez was sworn in on Monday as the new president of Honduras and took the opportunity to express a “zero-tolerance” policy against violent crime and drug-trafficking.

“Let me be clear: time has run out for the criminals,” he said.

Hernandez, 46, used his swearing in speech to urge the United States to continue its support for counter-narcotics operations and recognize its responsibility for Honduras’ homicide statistics, the world’s highest for a country not at open war.

Hernandez invited US President Barack Obama and the US Congress to recognize their “common, but different responsibilities” on drug trafficking, one of the main factors behind Honduran violence, calling for both countries to “work together.”

Hernandez replaces fellow conservative Porfirio Lobo, who took office in 2010 amid a crisis set off by the ousting of leftist Manuel Zelaya.

He took the oath of office in a ceremony at the National Stadium attended by an estimated 30,000 people.