Prince Moulay Rachid represents King Mohammed in Wade's inauguration

Prince Moulay Rachid represented King Mohammed VI in the inauguration of new Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, who took oath Saturday as third president of this country since independence from France in 1960.

Moulay Rachid was received by Wade before the oath-taking ceremony and handed him a message from King Mohammed VI.

The swearing in ceremony was attended by thousands of people, including several African heads of state.

Wade told the crowd that he had decided to hold the swearing ceremony in the Leopold Sedar Senghor stadium to symbolically mark an end to the solitary management of public affairs by a "small circle" of people.

The previous oath-taking ceremonies were held inside parliament or the constitutional council.

Wade appointed on Saturday, former foreign minister, Moustapha Niasse as his Premier.