Argentina's first elected female president sworn in

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Cristina Fernandez was sworn in Monday as Argentina's first elected female president, completing a rare husband-wife transfer of power that the nation hopes will ensure continued recovery from an economic meltdown.

Fernandez won 45 percent of the vote against a divided opposition on October 28. She joins Michelle Bachelet in neighboring Chile as the second female president in South America.

"The government that is coming is going to be much better than the one that's now leaving," Kirchner said.

He handed over power Monday afternoon to Fernandez, a three-term senator who won office handily on their left-leaning Victory Front coalition ticket.