KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) -- Nepal's communist rebels joined an interim government on Sunday as part of a landmark peace deal that ended their decade-long insurgency, pledging to ensure development in the impoverished Himalayan nation and hold credible elections.
Five former Maoists were appointed ministers, while a sixth was given a junior minister portfolio in the new government to be headed by Girija Prasad Koirala. The swearing-in ceremony was broadcast live on national television.
The former insurgents were sworn in along with 16 other ministers and junior ministers by a visibly pleased Koirala, 84, whom Parliament re-elected as prime minister earlier Sunday for a sixth time.
Three more ministers have yet to be named while one junior minister was out of town and could not attend the swearing-in ceremony, according to the prime minister's office.
"This is the beginning of a new chapter in Nepal's history. I urge all to leave behind all minor differences and move forward together to get to our goals," Koirala said.
"The government will be fully devoted to establishing peace and security in the country," he said.
Maoist leader Prachanda said their main focus would be to ensure elections are held for a special assembly that will rewrite the constitution and decide whether Nepal will continue as a constitutional monarchy state. The Maoists had fought for 10 years to replace Nepal's monarchy with a republic.
"This day marks the beginning of a new Nepal. Our priority for now is to hold the elections, which will be free and fair," said Prachanda, whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
"Our next goal is to provide some immediate relief to the people and then turn toward long-term development of the country," he said.
The former insurgents were given key portfolios such as the Ministry for Information and Communication which controls state-run television, radio and newspapers, and the Ministry for Local Development, according to the prime minister's office.
Sahana Pradhan of the Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist, a mainstream political party not affiliated with the former communist rebels, was appointed foreign minister.
Ram Chandra Poudel, deputy leader of Koirala's Nepali Congress party, was named minister for peace and rehabilitation, the No. 2 slot after the prime minister.
Ram Sharan Mahat remained finance minister and Krishna Sitaula returned as home minister. Mahat and Sitaula are also from the Nepali Congress party.
The inclusion of the former rebels is part of a peace process that began last year when the Maoists agreed to give up their armed campaign to rid Nepal of its constitutional monarchy and join an interim government.
The landmark agreement on the formation of a joint government was finalized late Friday in a meeting involving Koirala, leaders of the seven ruling coalition parties, and Prachanda, the leader of the former rebels who goes by a single name.
But the announcement a new Cabinet snagged on a dispute between the Nepali Congress party and the Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist over which party would be second-in-command in the new government.
Koirala met with leaders of the seven parties and the former rebels Sunday morning at his official residence to try to work out the differences.
Jhal Nath Khanal of the Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist later said his party backed down, allowing the Nepali Congress to take the No. 2 slot.
The government and rebels signed a peace agreement in November, halting an insurgency that killed more than 13,000 people.
Since then, the rebels have locked up their weapons, confined their fighters in U.N.-monitored camps and joined Parliament.
The interim government is to hold elections later this year for a special assembly that will rewrite the Constitution and decide whether Nepal will continue to have a king.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Five former Maoists were appointed ministers, while a sixth was given a junior minister portfolio in the new government to be headed by Girija Prasad Koirala. The swearing-in ceremony was broadcast live on national television.
The former insurgents were sworn in along with 16 other ministers and junior ministers by a visibly pleased Koirala, 84, whom Parliament re-elected as prime minister earlier Sunday for a sixth time.
Three more ministers have yet to be named while one junior minister was out of town and could not attend the swearing-in ceremony, according to the prime minister's office.
"This is the beginning of a new chapter in Nepal's history. I urge all to leave behind all minor differences and move forward together to get to our goals," Koirala said.
"The government will be fully devoted to establishing peace and security in the country," he said.
Maoist leader Prachanda said their main focus would be to ensure elections are held for a special assembly that will rewrite the constitution and decide whether Nepal will continue as a constitutional monarchy state. The Maoists had fought for 10 years to replace Nepal's monarchy with a republic.
"This day marks the beginning of a new Nepal. Our priority for now is to hold the elections, which will be free and fair," said Prachanda, whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
"Our next goal is to provide some immediate relief to the people and then turn toward long-term development of the country," he said.
The former insurgents were given key portfolios such as the Ministry for Information and Communication which controls state-run television, radio and newspapers, and the Ministry for Local Development, according to the prime minister's office.
Sahana Pradhan of the Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist, a mainstream political party not affiliated with the former communist rebels, was appointed foreign minister.
Ram Chandra Poudel, deputy leader of Koirala's Nepali Congress party, was named minister for peace and rehabilitation, the No. 2 slot after the prime minister.
Ram Sharan Mahat remained finance minister and Krishna Sitaula returned as home minister. Mahat and Sitaula are also from the Nepali Congress party.
The inclusion of the former rebels is part of a peace process that began last year when the Maoists agreed to give up their armed campaign to rid Nepal of its constitutional monarchy and join an interim government.
The landmark agreement on the formation of a joint government was finalized late Friday in a meeting involving Koirala, leaders of the seven ruling coalition parties, and Prachanda, the leader of the former rebels who goes by a single name.
But the announcement a new Cabinet snagged on a dispute between the Nepali Congress party and the Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist over which party would be second-in-command in the new government.
Koirala met with leaders of the seven parties and the former rebels Sunday morning at his official residence to try to work out the differences.
Jhal Nath Khanal of the Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist later said his party backed down, allowing the Nepali Congress to take the No. 2 slot.
The government and rebels signed a peace agreement in November, halting an insurgency that killed more than 13,000 people.
Since then, the rebels have locked up their weapons, confined their fighters in U.N.-monitored camps and joined Parliament.
The interim government is to hold elections later this year for a special assembly that will rewrite the Constitution and decide whether Nepal will continue to have a king.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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