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 GABORONE, Botswana (AP) - Botswana's president stepped down Tuesday, handing over power to his vice president in a smooth transition.
The Botswana Democratic Party, in power since the former British protectorate gained independence in 1966, virtually anoints the next head of state. The BDP is expected to continue its dominance in the face of a weak and divided opposition.
The new president, Seretse Ian Khama, said at his inauguration that "leadership changes can be a time of unease," but that it doesn't mean "radical changes." He said he shared the same objectives that Festus Mogae, 69, and the previous government had pursued.
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