Joyce Banda sworn in as Malawi's president

She has been sworn following her predecessors sudden death in office.Saturdays brief ceremony in Lilongwe, this impoverished southern African nations capital, ended more than a day of uncertainty. Doctors had disclosed that 78-year-old President Bingu wa Mutharika had died of a heart attack on Thursday, but the government insisted until Saturday morning that he was only ill.The delay in announcing Mutharikas death and allowing Banda to step in led to speculation politicians were squabbling over succession. Banda had held onto her post of vice president despite falling out with Mutharika, and the constitution dictated the vice president should take over if the president died.Banda is Malawis first woman president, and one of few women to have reached the top office in Africa.