Nepal's interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki addresses as President Ram Chandra Paudel applauds while attending the Constitution Day at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu, Nepal, on Friday. — Reuters KATHMANDU, Sept 19 (Agencies): Nepal's interim prime minister pledged on Friday to fight corruption, create jobs and raise living standards in her first public comments since coming to office after youth-led protests toppled the government.
Sushila Karki said the protests - that left at least 72 people dead and forced her predecessor K.P. Sharma Oli to quit - had been triggered by frustration over growing corruption and other failings.
Authorities have said more than 2,100 people were injured in the unrest that raged for two days last week. Arson and vandalism caused extensive damage to private and public property, including the complex housing the prime minister's office, the Supreme Court and the parliament.
"We must accept the fact that the protests took place because of the failure to fulfil the spirit and objectives of providing good governance and prosperity enshrined in the constitution," Karki said.
She spoke on Nepal's national day, marking the 10th anniversary of the proclamation of the constitution.
Meanwhile, Nepal's deposed prime minister KP Sharma Oli said Friday his government did not order police to open fire on protesters and called for a probe into violence that killed at least 73 people.
In his first statement since stepping down last Tuesday, the 73-year-old said "infiltrators" were responsible for inciting bloodshed during youth-led protests that swept the Himalayan nation beginning September 8.
The demonstrations were sparked by a short-lived ban on social media, but fueled by anger at corruption and long-standing economic woes.
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