S. African President Wins 2nd Term

President Thabo Mbeki was elected unopposed for a second term Friday, pledging to fight poverty and improve opportunities for all South Africans after his party scored its biggest victory yet in a decade of multiracial democracy.

"Despite the fact of our hard-won freedom and democracy, very many of our people continue to lead miserable lives," Mbeki told parliament. "We share a common responsibility ... to speed up the process toward the achievement of the goal of a better life for all our people."

Lawmakers broke into cheers after re-electing Mbeki at their first session since April 14 general elections.

Mbeki's African National Congress, which led South Africa out of apartheid in 1994, won 270 of the National Assembly's 400 seats and led in voting for nine provincial assemblies.

Though the winner was a foregone conclusion, the size of the majority showed South Africans still willing to wait for more tangible benefits of the momentous changes of a decade ago.

While a new black elite is transforming South African suburbs and boardrooms, the country continues to be plagued by poverty, unemployment, crime and AIDS. Millions live in squalid townships, and the gap between rich and poor is increasing.

"Whatever anyone and all of us might have said during the election campaign, we are aware of our people's sincere appreciation of the changes that have taken place during the last 10 years," said Mbeki, dressed in a navy suit and silver tie. "That appreciation also tells us what else we need to do to respond to the needs of our people."

Opposition leaders congratulated Mbeki and promised to work with the ruling party to meet South Africa's challenges.

"Whatever our political differences, we do share the same goals and dreams," said Tony Leon, leader of the Democratic Alliance, the ANC's chief rival.

Earlier, lawmakers lined up in groups of 10 to be sworn in by Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson.

The assembly's first official act was to elect Deputy Speaker Baleka Mbete speaker of the house, replacing Frene Ginwala who has held the post since 1994. Mbete was fighting back tears as she took her new seat.

"I am awed by the confidence and responsibility bestowed on me," she told the assembly, adding that hard work lay ahead them. "We dare not fail our people."

ANC lawmaker Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde was elected as Mbete's deputy.

There was a carnival-like atmosphere for the occasion. Traditional minstrels in painted faces and brightly colored uniforms marched through Cape Town to parliament, where a military band welcomed lawmakers with popular tunes.

Three gymnasts performed a routine with red ribbons in the courtyard, and a choir dressed in black and gold sang for members as they filed into the National Assembly.

Over the next week, the nine provincial assemblies will also meet to select delegates to the 90-member National Council of Provinces, parliament's second chamber.

Mbeki will be sworn in as president on April 27, the day South Africa celebrates its first decade of multiracial democracy.