Erdogan sworn in as president

ANKARA, Turkey — Recep Tayyip Erdogan took the oath office as Turkey's first popularly elected president on Thursday, a position that will keep him in the nation's driving seat for at least another five years.

Erdogan was scheduled to appoint Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu — his designated successor as prime minster and loyal ally — to form a new government in the evening, following ceremonies at the presidential palace.

Erdogan has dominated Turkish politics for a decade and won Turkey's first direct presidential elections on August 10. He has indicated he wants to transform the presidency from a largely ceremonial post into a more powerful position and is expected to hold sway in the running of the country. He intends to exercise the full powers of the presidency, including summoning Cabinet meetings.

Taking the oath in parliament, Erdogan said: "As president I swear on my pride and honour that I will protect the state, its independence, the indivisible unity of the nation... and that I will abide by the constitution, the rule of law, democracy... and the principle of the secular republic."

Later, Erdogan headed to the mausoleum of the nation's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, where he wrote on the visitors' book: "Today, the day the first president elected by the people takes office, is the day Turkey is born from its ashes."

Legislators from Turkey's main opposition party left parliament minutes before Erdogan arrived in protest of the man they accuse of not respecting the country's constitution. A legislator was seen throwing a copy of the constitution towards the parliamentary speaker, complaining that he wasn't allowed to speak.

Erdogan "will pledge allegiance to the constitution but he will lie. I don't want to witness that lie," said Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the opposition party's leader, who snubbed the inauguration ceremony.

In a ceremony where he formally took charge of the presidency from his predecessor, Abdullah Gul, Erdogan said that as the first president to be elected by the people — instead of parliament — his tenure would usher in an era of a "new Turkey, a great Turkey".

Working "hand in hand" with Davutoglu, the two would end divisions in Turkey, strive to further improve the economy, carry out democratic reforms and advance the country's bid to join the European Union, Erdogan said.

"Our march towards the EU will continue in a more determined way. Our democratic reforms won't lose speed," Erdogan said.

On Wednesday, Erdogan rejected claims that Davutoglu would merely do his bidding, saying the two would work together.

Erdogan has been a divisive figure. He is adored by supporters after presiding over a decade of relative prosperity. But he is also despised by many for taking an increasing authoritarian tack and is accused of trying to impose his religious and conservative mores on a nation that has secular traditions.