New Prime Minister named for Nepal

Girija Prasad Koirala has been named the new prime minister of Nepal. The 84-year-old leader of Nepal’s largest political party had been the unanimous choice of the country’s opposition movement.

King Gyanendra made the new appointment following three weeks of street protests that forced him to re-establish parliamentary rule. In response to these developments Maoist rebels have called a three month cease fire – the new Prime Minister is to summon a special assembly to review the constitution, which was one of the Maoists’ key demands. However the fragile Koirala was too ill to attend a victory ceremony held in Kathmandu – and his absence prompted booing and scuffling in the crowd.