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Hollande sworn in as new French president

France's outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) shakes hands with newly-elected President Francois Hollande on the steps of the Elysee Palace at the handover ceremony in Paris May 15, 2012. REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen

PARIS (Reuters) – Francois Hollande became French

president on Tuesday in an official handover ceremony that makes him the country’s first Socialist

leader since Francois Mitterrand.

Outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy greeted Hollande on the steps

of the Elysee presidential palace, and took him inside to transfer nuclear codes and other secret files

ahead of a short swearing-in ceremony attended by around 400 guests.

Hollande was due to fly to

Berlin later in the day for his first meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

(Reporting

By Catherine Bremer; Editing by Paul Taylor)

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