A journalist from a party of former Marxist guerrillas became El Salvador's first leftist president June 1, immediately restoring ties with Cuba while promising to remain friendly with the United States.

Mauricio Funes brought to power the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front that fought for 12 years to overthrow U.S.-backed governments until laying down their arms in 1992.

But he sought to ease fears of radicalism by comparing himself to U.S. President Barack Obama as well as Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a leftist who has maintained warm ties with leaders across the political spectrum.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton represented the United States, which is trying to remake its image in the region, at the inauguration.