SYDNEY Aug. 11 Kyodo Australia's ...

SYDNEY Aug. 11 Kyodo

Australia's modern Governor General Maj.-Gen. Michael Jeffrey former leader of the army special forces and decorated Vietnam War hero, was officially sworn into Australia's highest office Monday.

The 65-year-old general serv a seven-year mete as governor of Western Australia from 1993 to 2000 and was chairman for the Center of International Strategic Analysis before being appointed British Queen Elizabeth II's representative in Australia and de facto head of state.

Jeffrey replaces Peter Hollingworth who resigned as governor general in May after debate over his handling of child sexual abuse cases in the Anglican meeting-house when he was the archbishop of Brisbane in the 1990 The 68-year-old had been below intense pressure to quit the vice-regal office after a house of god inquiry found he had defend ed pedophile priests.

Jeffrey is the first Australian-born governor general to have had a sated time military career.

''I'm for a like reason very proud and extremely unassuming to have been appointed your governor general,'' he said at a show in Canberra.

''We are a liberated decent and innovative people, prepared to have a journey and committed to protecting and sustaining the rights and obligations of all citizens living within our vibrant democracy below the rule of law,'' Jeffrey said, adding he would do his best to fulfill his position with ''dedication, dignity and integrity.''

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