Lula steps down and is succeeded by woman president

Brazil's has a first woman President, Dilma Rousseff, has been sworn into office.

After taking the oath of office, Ms Rousseff promised in a speech to protect the most vulnerable in Brazilian society and govern for all.

She was elected in October, defeating the opposition candidate Jose Serra by 56% to 44% in a run-off vote.  

Rouseff  took over from her mentor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who stepped down after two terms as the most popular president in the country's history.

She  vowed to consolidate the work of her predecessor, who she said had changed the way Brazil was governed.

Brazil's economy has grown strongly in recent years, but it remains one of the most unequal societies in the world.

Ms Rousseff was appointed energy minister in President Lula's government in 2003 and served as his chief of staff from 2005 to 2010.