A new mayor has been sworn-in to office in the American capital, Washington DC, bringing to an end the flamboyant and often erratic term in office of Marion Barry.

Anthony Williams: "We have to restore faith and confidence"

His successor is Anthony Williams, who has pledged to put the city's finances on a sound footing and to deliver more efficient city government.

During his 16 years in office, Marion Barry was quite simply America's most controversial mayor. A regular guest a late-night parties, often in the company of women other than his wife, many considered his personal life chaotic and reckless.

The same was often said of his leadership as mayor. While in office he travelled extensively all over the world, sometimes at the taxpayers' expense, and was repeatedly accused of chronyism after placing friends and political allies in political jobs.

Famously he visited sunny California to attend American football's Super Bowl, while Washington was paralysed by a foot of snow.

Cocaine conviction

Barry served six years in jail

But it was his conviction for cocaine possession following an FBI undercover sting operation in 1990 for which the Barry years will probably be best remembered.

That, and an astonishing political comeback, because after serving six months in jail, Mr Barry won re-election to the city council and then secured a fourth term as mayor.

But the city continued to face enormous financial problems, leading to breakdowns in basic services like the collection of rubbish from the city's streets.

'Safer' successor

In contrast to Mr Barry, the new mayor Anthony Williams is regarded as a competent administrator who offers a more corporate business-like approach to dealing with the problems of the city.

Mr Williams would like to make an impact but not in the way that his predecessor did. He says he has a much more down to earth approach for tackling the city's problems.

Winning election last November, he tried to make a virtue out of his lack of flamboyance, labelling himself as a big-eared bean counter.

After the wild ride under Mayor Barry's leadership, many in Washington are now looking forward to the rather safer journey which Mr Williams has promised.