Indonesia's president Joko Widodo has officially sworn in the first ethnic Chinese to govern the capital, Jakarta.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known by the nickname Ahok, has been serving as acting governor since Mr Widodo stepped aside last month to become president.

Indonesia has the world's biggest Muslim population and hardline Islamists have staged protests against Mr Ahok, who is a Christian, taking over as governor.

Thousands of police had been deployed around the capital this week in case of violence.

But Mr Ahok's inauguration ceremony at the presidential palace on Wednesday was peaceful and uninterrupted.

The secular country of 240 million people has seen a rise in attacks over the last decade against Christians, Shia Muslims and members of Ahmadiyah, a small Islamic sect.

Mr Widodo's administration has pledged to protect all religious minorities in Indonesia, where nearly 90 per cent of the population consider themselves Muslim.

ABC/Reuters