Helsinki - Finland yesterday swore in its first woman president, Ms Tarja Halonen, who promised to work for gender equality and a fairer society.
Ms Halonen is Finland's 11th president since Finnish independence in 1917.
She becomes head of state just as Finland adopts a new constitution clipping the president's powers. She will be in charge of foreign policy, but will be obliged to conduct foreign affairs in close co-operation with the prime minister and cabinet.