Iceland has world's 1st openly gay leader

REYKJAVíK, Iceland, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Iceland's Johanna Sigurdardottir Thursday became the world's first openly gay prime minister following the mass resignation of the country's government.

Sigurdardottir, 66, a former flight attendant, will be Iceland's interim leader until new elections are conducted in May, The Times of London reported Thursday.

Sigurdardottir, Iceland's social affairs minister, was installed as head of an interim center-left coalition of her Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green movement.

The administration of Geir Haarde collapsed amid public outcry about the country's economic crisis.

"Now we need a strong government that works with the people," she told reporters, adding her new administration was likely to be sworn in Saturday.

Sigurdardottir is known for allocating public funding to help the disabled, the elderly and organizations addressing domestic violence, the British newspaper said. She also is seen by many as one who can unify and resolve tensions.