PRETORIA : Oath for Mandela

Nelson Mandela, the enduring symbol of the long struggle against apartheid, will be sworn in as South Africa’s first black president today in a lavish ceremony at the Union Buildings, the government’s administrative complex, in Pretoria. His inauguration will set in motion the transition to a new constitution for the country. He was formally elected president by the Parliament in Cape Town on Monday.

Mandela’s inaugural address will be closely watched abroad for the tone and policy of his newborn administration. Among the dignitaries attending the inaugural will be U.S. Vice President Al Gore and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, heading a large American contingent.