Standing before a lone, one-starred flag, 67-year-old Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took office as Liberia's new leader, promising to uphold her country's fragile peace. She inherits a war-ruined nation with no running water, no electricity, and huge expectations for change.

Sirleaf called for unity - and patience.

''It is time for us, regardless of our political affiliations or persuasions, to come together to heal and rebuild our nation,'' Sirleaf said in her inaugural speech.

Founded by freed American slaves in 1847, Liberia was prosperous and peaceful for more than a century, bolstered by abundant timber and diamond wealth. But back-to-back civil wars from 1989 to 2003 brought the country to its knees, killing 200,000 people and displacing half the nation's population of 3 million.

Today, not even the capital has running water or electricity: The rich rely on generators, the poor on candles. Unemployment is at 80 percent.

''We have all suffered. The individual sense of deprivation is immense,'' Sirleaf said. ''The task of reconstructing our devastating economy is awesome, for which there will be no quick fix.''

The last time U.S. Navy warships deployed off Liberia's shores, their presence helped nudge warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor from office. Taylor was cornered in Monrovia by a rebel advance pressing on the capital and President Bush had urged him to step down.

After Sirleaf completed the oath of office Monday, there was rapturous applause. Among the foreign guests: first lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent congratulations, saying in a statement Sirleaf had a ''historic mandate to lead the nation toward a future of lasting peace and stability.''

Sirleaf promised the start of her six-year term would mark a ''fundamental break'' with the West African nation's violent past. Ensuring Liberia remains peaceful will be Sirleaf's most pressing - and perhaps most difficult - task.

George Weah, the soccer star who lost the November runoff, was backed by most of the country's top warlords and faction leaders. Weah grudgingly accepted defeat and attended the inauguration.

Several lawmakers in the new legislature are under a U.N. travel ban and their assets have been frozen for constituting ''a threat to peace.'' One newly appointed senator ordered his troops to hack off the ears of a captured president in 1990. Others are allies of Taylor.

Another crucial task: assuring the future of 100,000 ex-combatants who laid down arms last year. Many continue to prowl the streets, unemployed.

For now, Sirleaf's government is backed by 15,000 U.N. troops.

Rice again rules out run for presidency in 2008

Not even a vote of confidence from Laura Bush can change Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's mind about running for president in 2008.

Before leaving for Africa, the first lady predicted the U.S. soon would have a female president - a Republican, and maybe even Rice.

Asked about the first lady's comments, Rice laughed and good-naturedly answered the recurring question about her prospects for president. No dice, she said - for the umpteenth time.