Home Minister Mardiyanto swore in Syahrul Yasin Limpo and Agus Arifin Nu'mang as governor and vice governor of South Sulawesi, respectively, at the governor's residence in Makassar on Tuesday.

The two were appointed as the province's governor and vice governor for the 2008-2013 term on April 3, 2008, based on Presidential Decree No. 18, Antara reported.

The pair, who in their campaign promised free education and healthcare for the 7.4 million people of South Sulawesi, won the controversial election on Nov. 5 last year by garnering 39.53 percent of votes.

They were nominated by an alliance of the National Mandate Party, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Prosperous Peace Party and United Democratic Nationhood Party.

The successful candidates polled only slightly ahead of runners-up Amin Syam and Mansyur Ramli, nominated by Golkar Party, who received 38.76 percent of vote.

The third pair of candidates, Azis Qahhar Mudzakkar and Mubyl Handaling, endorsed by the United Development Party and Star Crescent Party, received only 21.71 percent of votes.

The Supreme Court annulled the Syahrul-Agus victory earlier this year, citing voting irregularities. The court appointed Ahmad Tanribali Lamo as interim governor until the province could hold repeat elections.

The court's verdict sparked strong protests by thousands of people both against the government's decision not to swear in governor-elect Syahrul and against the alleged intervention by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who is also chairman of Golkar Party.

As many as 3,000 police and military personnel, with water cannons and hundreds of cars, were called in to maintain security when Makassar was besieged by demonstrators in mid-January this year.

Repeat elections were not held, but the ballots were recounted in areas where counts were disputed.

After making their oaths Tuesday, Syahrul and Agus signed the inauguration documents and conducted the transfer of authority from interim governor Ahmad Tanribali Lamo, who had led the province for the past three months.

In his speech, Mardiyanto conveyed his deep appreciation to the entire people of South Sulawesi, whose behavior had ensured the election was conducted in a "smooth, peaceful and dynamic manner".

He said political stability in the province would serve as an example for other provinces, and this attitude should be maintained, especially when facing the 2009 general elections.

He expressed hope Syahrul and Agus would be able to realize their vision of making the province one of the top 10 in Indonesia in terms of delivering people's basic rights, such as free education and healthcare.

Mardiyanto also expressed his gratitude to Amin Syam, the former South Sulawesi governor, for his actions and achievements during his term in office, and to Achmad Tanribali Lamo who successfully led the province during the transition period.

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