Nepal parliament elects Sushil Koirala as new PM

KATHMANDU, Feb 10 (AFP): Nepal's parliament elected Sushil Koirala as prime minister Monday, raising hopes of ending a prolonged political crisis and finally restoring stability to the war-torn Himalayan nation.
Koirala, 75, the president of the country's largest and oldest party, won a majority of votes cast in the constituent assembly.
"Sushil Koirala has secured 405 of 553 votes cast at the election today. Therefore, Koirala has secured a majority of votes of the members of the parliament," said its speaker Surya Bahadur Thapa.
Koirala's election is expected to pave the way for the formation of a new coalition government, breaking months of deadlock following elections in November last year.
The vote came after his Nepali Congress party secured backing from the rival Unified Marxist-Leninist party for Monday's vote, after negotiations about a power-sharing agreement over the weekend.
He earlier told the assembly that the impoverished nation would rely on its two giant neighbours, China to the north and India to the south, "as well as other friends to complete our responsibilities".
Since Nepal's first post-war elections in 2008, five prime ministers have served brief terms, the country has had no leader for long periods, and the constituent assembly has been perpetually deadlocked.
The first version of the 601-member body, dominated by the one-time rebel Maoists, finally collapsed in May 2012 after failing to agree on a constitution and complete the peace process.
The Maoists, who traded their guns for politics after signing a pact to end the civil war, have been relegated to a humiliating third place in the new assembly with just 80 seats.
Koirala, who is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday, is the fourth member of his extended family to become prime minister in Nepal's history.
He is charged with trying to unify and rebuild the country, whose economic growth has slid in recent years, forcing hundreds of thousands of Nepalis to migrate overseas for jobs.
"The government under my leadership will promote internal capital and external investment. We will create economic opportunities within our country to end poverty and unemployment," Koirala said in his speech in the assembly.
Leaders from across Nepal's political divide have pledged to draw up the constitution within a year, after the assembly convened for the first time since the polls last month.
As part of the weekend deal to form government, the Nepali Congress has agreed to UML's request to hold fresh elections for top posts including for prime minister and president after the constitution is delivered.