AFP - Leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales on Saturday swore in a new cabinet of 20 ministers, half of whom are women -- a first in the macho Andean nation.

"My great dream has been fulfilled, half of my cabinet are women, the other half men," said Morales, speaking at a ceremony at the Quemado presidential palace.

Morales, 50, was sworn in for a second five-year term on Friday after he was easily re-elected on December 6.

Female members of his cabinet include Labor Minister Carmen Trujillo; Justice Minister Nilda Copa; Transparency and Anti-Corruption Minister Nardy Suxo; and folk singer and activist Zulma Yugar as minister of culture.

The only precedent in Latin America for a similar split was under President Michelle Bachelet in Chile, who after her 2006 election divided her cabinet of 26 ministers equally among men and women.

Since coming to power in January 2006 as Bolivia's first indigenous head of state, Morales, a former coca farmer and union leader, has steadily increased his control over his country.

Like Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, he has also wielded fierce anti-US rhetoric, and has kicked out the US ambassador and US anti-narcotics officials.

Morales also ratified Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca in his post, as well as Finance Minister Luis Alberto Arce.