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Puerto Rico's First Woman Governor Sworn In
Sila Calderon was sworn in Tuesday as Puerto Rico"s first woman governor, promising to seek greater autonomy for the U.S. territory and to try to halt Navy exercises on the outlying island of Vieques.
A crowd of thousands broke into wild applause and chants of "Sila! Sila!" as she took the oath of office on the steps of the island"s Capitol overlooking the Atlantic. A cannon blasted from the nearby Spanish colonial fort of San Cristobal, and doves flew into an azure sky.
"The people of Puerto Rico want an immediate halt to the naval exercises," Calderon said to applause in her inaugural address. "Sixty years of a menace to the health and security of our countrymen is unacceptable for any civilized and peaceful society."
Calderon"s inauguration, which came three weeks before George W. Bush"s start in the presidency, raised the possibility of an even more conflicted relationship between Puerto Rico and the U.S. government. Although Bush has said he will stand by an agreement that could result in the Navy"s withdrawal from Vieques, he is also known for his staunch support of the American military. Calderon said she wants an immediate Navy withdrawal _ not the 2003 target offered by the agreement.
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