Brazil inaugurates President Lula da Silva

BRASILIA, Brazil, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- In his inaugural address Monday, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for citizens to show "courage" to "open new ways" for the country.

The second-term president said he would spend the next four years promoting economic growth as well as tackling social problems such as hunger. Lula also called for additional political reforms, Brazil's Agencia Estado news agency reported.

During his first term, the left-leaning Lula surprised many of his early critics who said the one-time socialist would ruin the country's largest economy with his wide-ranging social ambitions.

However the president maintained a relatively conservative economic policy that reduced the Brazil's foreign debt while increasing the budget surplus, even though he fostered several social programs.