The former military ruler of Suriname, Desi Bouterse, has been elected president by the South American nation's parliament.
Mr Bouterse won the necessary 36 votes out of 50 after weeks of negotiations with political factions following a narrow election victory in May.
Mr Bouterse, 64, first led Suriname after taking power in a coup in 1980.
He has been accused of killing political opponents and convicted of drug trafficking in the Netherlands.
His supporters waved flags and cheered outside parliament in the capital Paramaribo, after he secured enough votes for the presidency.
But opponents voiced dismay that the former coup leader had been elected.
"We have gone totally mad in this country," government employee Michael Charles told the Associated Press news agency.
BBC News
