Washington prepares for Obama inauguration

Washington DC is preparing as hundreds of thousands get set to witness President Barack Obama take an oath to “protect and defend'' the US Constitution, a day after officially affirming the duties of president in a private White House ceremony.

Monday’s ceremony, which will consist of parades and fancy dress balls will mark the beginning of Obama's second four-year term as US president.

After taking oath, Obama is expected to follow the recent tradition of walking at least part of the way back to the White House, surrounded by cheers.

In a brief ceremony on Sunday, with family gathered in the White House, Obama took the oath of office shortly before noon, as required by law.

With his left hand on a family bible held by first lady Michelle Obama, the 44th president raised his right hand and repeated the time-honoured words read out by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

The intimate swearing-in met the legal requirement that presidents officially take office on January 20. Because that date fell on a Sunday this year, the traditional public ceremonies surrounding the start of a president's term were put off to Monday, which coincides this year with the birthday of revered civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Obama made no special remarks at Sunday's ceremony. “I did it,'' he said quietly to his youngest daughter, Sasha, before wrapping her in a hug. The oath went smoothly, unlike four years ago, when Roberts made mistakes while trying to recite the oath from memory and had to do it again with Obama later.

Monday's events are expected to have less of the effervescence of four years ago, when the 1.8 million people packed into central Washington knew they were witnessing history. Officials are expecting 500,000 to 700,000 people to turn out Monday.