The first woman elected president of a South American country on her own merits has moved quickly to open her government to other women.

Michelle Bachelet, sworn in Saturday as Chile's first female president, promptly named a 20-member cabinet – 10 men and 10 women.

The Socialist pediatrician has promised to have equal numbers of men and women in about 300 decision-making posts, and plans to introduce a law to make political parties include minimum numbers of women in contests for congressional and municipal posts.

Michelle Bachelet leaves the congress after being sworn in as Chile's new president in Valparaiso, March 11, 2006 (AP Photo/Tomas Munita).
Michelle Bachelet leaves the congress after being sworn in as Chile's new president in Valparaiso, March 11, 2006 (AP Photo/Tomas Munita).

Bachelet said her inauguration was about more than "the change from a great president to a woman president. It's about putting an entire government to your service."

She is not the first women president of a South American country, but her predecessors won elections to replace their husbands, who had died in office.

But other woman leaders were pleased at her victory.

"It's wonderful to welcome another one to the club," said New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Bachelet was sworn in before more than 1,000 guests at the crowded Hall of Honour of Chile's Congress in Puerto de Valparaíso, a port city near Santiago.

The presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice were there. Canada was represented by Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean.

Bachelet is the daughter of an air force general who was tortured and died in prison for opposing the 1973 military coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet. She, too, was briefly imprisoned and tortured before being forced into exile with her mother for five years, first in Austria, then in East Germany.

She met privately with Rice and a number of left-leaning South American leaders. Jean and Bachelet met privately Friday.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Bachelet's election is more proof of political change in South America.

"A worker is president of Brazil – there comes Lula; an Indian is president of Bolivia; a woman is president of Chile, and in Venezuela, a revolutionary soldier, which is what I am."

Evo Morales is president of Bolivia and Luis Inacio Lula da Silva leads Brazil.