Nepal has sworn in its first president, nearly two months after
lawmakers abolished the monarchy and established the Himalayan nation
as a republic.
Ram Baran Yadav took the oath of office in
Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, Wednesday. The 61-year-old physician is a
former health minister from southern Nepal's ethnic Madheshi community.
He has pledged to unite the country as he takes on the ceremonial
position.
After Mr. Yadav was sworn in, Nepal's Prime Minister
Girija Prasad Koirala formally submitted his resignation. Koirala
announced his decision to step down last month.
The new
president is a member of the Nepali Congress party. He won the most
votes in the constituent assembly on Monday - defeating the Maoist
candidate.
Maoist leaders said Monday's loss shows they do not
have the support to lead a coalition government and instead they will
continue to act as the opposition.
The former communist rebels
had hoped to hold the posts of both president and prime minister. The
group holds the most seats in the constituent assembly after April's
election, but do not have a majority.
The Maoists ended their
decade-long insurgency and agreed to join the government two years
ago. More than 13,000 people died in insurgency-related violence.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.