Portugal's Guterres sworn in as next UN secretary-general

Replaces Ban Ki-moon of South Korea

Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres took the oath of office on Monday to be the ninth United Nations Secretary-General with his hand on a copy of the UN Charter in front of the 193-member General Assembly.

https://t.co/jCXcZt4lG4 https://t.co/vWFN43t8jL

— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) December 12, 2016

Guterres, 67, will replace Ban Ki-moon, 72, of South Korea on Jan. 1. Ban steps down at the end of 2016 after serving two five-year terms.

Guterres was Portugal's prime minister from 1995 to 2002 and UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 2005 to 2015.