Nepal's first president sworn in

24/07/2008 15:56:39

The first president of the Nepal republic has been sworn into office, but the country remains in political limbo with the former Maoist rebels refusing to form a government under him.

Ram Baran Yadav, the choice of the centrist Nepali Congress party, was elected president on Monday, infuriating the Maoists who hold the largest bloc of seats in the assembly but not an outright majority.

Although the presidency is a largely ceremonial position, the Maoists say Mr Yadav's victory gives them little room to manoeuvre should they form a government, and little chance of implementing key platform pledges like radical land reform.

Nonetheless, the Maoists say they will be involved in the drafting of the new consitution even if they are not part of the government.

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