Kathmandu, June 04: Nepal's King Gyanendra today appointed his loyalist Surya Bahadur Thapa as new prime minister of the Himalayan kingdom, the Royal Palace said.
"According to constitutional provisions, Surya Bahadur
Thapa has been appointed as prime minister" and executive
powers transferred to him, a palace statement said.
Thapa, of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, will replace
his party colleague Lokendra Bahadur Chand, who resigned last
Friday following a month-long agitation by five major parties
demanding restoration of democratic rights and formation of an
all-party government.
This will be Thapa's fifth stint as premier.
The King had asked the 75-year-old Thapa to include
representatives of major political parties in his government,
government-run Radio Nepal said.
Thapa met King Gyanendra twice today, once in the morning
and again in the afternoon, before his appointment was
announced.
Bureau Report
