La Paz - Mr Jorge Quiroga, a US-educated engineer who became Bolivia's 62nd president yesterday brings a new generation to power in South America.
Mr Quiroga (41) takes over from Mr Hugo Banzer (75), who is suffering from cancer and resigned on Monday.
Mr Quiroga has been running the country for more than a month while the president underwent cancer treatment in the US.
He has been vice-president for four years and will serve out the remainder of Mr Banzer's term, until August, 2002.