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Jhalanath Khanal Sworn in as Nepal's New PM

   VOA News  February 06, 2011
   Nepal's newly elected Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal

Photo: AP Photo/Binod Joshi

   Nepal's  newly  elected  Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal looks on after
   his swearing-in ceremony in Katmandu, Nepal, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011.

   Nepal's  newly  elected  Prime  Minister Jhalanath Khanal was sworn in
   Sunday  at  a  ceremony  in  Kathmandu, ending a seven-month political
   stalemate that has delayed the drafting of a new constitution.
   President  Ram  Baran  Yadav  administered  the  oath of office to Mr.
   Khanal  in  a ceremony at the official presidential residence attended
   by a number of dignitaries.
   Mr.  Khanal  was  elected by the country's lawmakers last Thursday. It
   was  their  17th  attempt  to choose a new prime minister since Madhav
   Kumar  Nepal  resigned from the post last June under pressure from the
   Maoist opposition.
   The  Maoists  have  the  most  seats  in parliament, but not enough to
   govern  alone.  The new prime minister belongs to the Unified Marxist
   Leninist (UML) party allied to the Maoists.
   Mr.  Khanal  has  appealed  to all political parties for support.  He
   said  the country can make the transition to peace and prosperity only
   on the basis of national consensus.
   The  peace  process  began in 2006, when the Maoist rebels ended their
   decade-long  insurgency  and  were  allowed to rejoin the government.Â
   But  the parties disagree on the shape of the new constitution and the
   future  of  some  19,000  former  Maoist guerrillas, who are living in
   camps.
   The new prime minister has warned lawmakers that they must consolidate
   the  progress  made since the civil was ended or once again be plunged
   into crisis.

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