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King swears in Koirala as Nepali premier+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)KATHMANDU, April 30_(Kyodo) _ Girija Prasad Koirala was sworn in as prime minister of Nepal on Sunday. King Gyanendra administered the oath of office to the octogenarian premier at the Narayanhity Royal Palace at 10 a.m. Koirala was chosen prime minister last Thursday on the recommendation of leaders of the alliance of seven political parties. The alliance spearheaded a campaign against King Gyanendra's absolute rule, which ended last week after the king reinstated a parliament dissolved four years ago. Koirala has asked the recalled parliament to go to election for a constituent assembly to write a new constitution for Nepal. Alliance leaders and Nepal's warring Maoist rebels want to frame the new constitution to replace Nepal's present Constitution, which vests considerable powers with the king. For Sunday's swearing in, Koirala was asked by rebels and student leaders of the alliance to shun the king and his palace and opt for a public place, but he apparently ignored that call. Koirala did not, however, take the customary oath of member of the Royal Privy Council on the occasion. Alliance leaders charge the council, which is made up of the king's loyalists, had encouraged the monarch to stage his coup last year. Koirala becomes Nepal's prime minister for the fifth time in the past 16 years. Previous governments led by Koirala have been called "inept, corrupt, and short-lived." |