Niger's president takes second term in office

NIAMEY, Niger – Niger's president has been inaugurated for his second five-year term in office after easily winning re-election.

President Mahamadou Issoufou was inaugurated in a ceremony Saturday attended by several heads of state from countries including Senegal, Chad and Ivory Coast. Representatives from 53 countries, including the United States, were at the ceremony as well.

President Issoufou received more than 92 percent of the March 20 runoff vote. He had campaigned on his record fighting Islamic extremists.

The opposition had said it wouldn't recognize poll results because of irregularities in the first round.

Opposition candidate Hama Amadou was detained from November until March for alleged involvement in a baby-trafficking scheme, a charge he has dismissed as politically motivated. He was flown to Paris for medical treatment ahead of the vote.