MADRID, April 17 (UPI) -- Socialist Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who was swept into office days after the Madrid train bombings, was sworn in Saturday as prime minister of Spain.
King Juan Carlos administered the oath to the new prime minister during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid. The event was attended by Queen Sofia, Spain's chief justice, and by outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar,
Zapatero has never held a ministerial post, but his government is said to include Miguel Angel Moratinos, who was the European Union's envoy to the Middle East for seven years.
Moratinos is reported to have help soothe those upset at home and abroad with Zapatero's pledge to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq unless the United Nations is given a larger role, the BBC said.
The new prime minister is to announce the makeup of his new cabinet soon. Of the 16 posts, eight are to held by women.
