Venezuela's opposition Saturday accused the government of President Nicolas Maduro of engaging in mass arrests of protesters, in a contentious start to his new administration. Maduro, who was sworn in to office on Friday to replace the late Hugo Chavez, said in his inaugural address he was ready for dialogue with the opposition but coupled that with warnings he would take a "hard fist" against those promoting a coup d'etat.

Nicolas Maduro was sworn in as president of Venezuela on Friday, replacing the late Hugo Chavez and calling for dialogue with the opposition to build a better country "for everyone, by everyone." To cheers in the National Assembly, Maduro dedicated his oath of office to "the eternal memory of the supreme commander" Chavez, who dominated this oil-rich South American country for 14 years until dying from cancer in March.

A self-styled "apostle" of Hugo Chavez, Nicolas Maduro, who became Venezuela's president Friday, climbed from humble beginnings as a bus driver to the pinnacle of power in the shadow of his charismatic predecessor. "I am the first post-Chavez president in history," he proclaimed hours before taking the oath of office and donning a presidential sash that Chavez made his own for 14 years until his death of cancer on March 5 at age 58.

Duty Editor: Joseph Krauss Tel: + 1 202 414 0541 What's happening in the Americas on Saturday: + Hunt for bomb suspect after Boston lockdown + Venezuela marks first day with Maduro as president + IMF, World Bank hold spring meetings BOSTON, Massachusetts: Monitoring the intense manhunt for a man alleged to be one of the perpetrators of this week's deadly bombings in Boston, after authorities put the entire region on lockdown in pursuit of the suspect. Picture. Video. Graphic (US-ATTACKS)