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Maldonado sworn in as new Guatemalan president

Xinhua, September 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre was sworn in Thursday as new president of Guatemala after the resignation of Otto Perez Molina.

He was sworn in by Congress president Luis Rabbe, who attached the presidential band and badge to him.

The new president will complete Perez's remaining term of office till Jan. 14, 2016. Maldonado will hand over power to the winning candidate from the this Sunday's elections.

Maldonado became vice president after his predecessor, Roxana Baldetti, resigned amid allegations of corruption. Baldetti was later jailed.

Perez was arrested on Thursday after his resignation. His presidential immunity was removed by Congress on Tuesday.

He was accused of leading a customs fraud network known as "The Line," which is thought to involve over 40 people, including Baldetti.

Perez was taken to the Matamoros prison, a minimum-security facility in the center of Guatemala City. Endi