Nepal's first president elected by new republic's governing assembly
Nepal's governing assembly has elected the new republic's first president, defeating the candidate backed by the former communist rebels who emerged in recent elections as the largest political party.
Senior leaders of the former rebels, formally known as Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), warned after the results were announced Monday that they would withdraw plans to form the new government.
Constituent Assembly Chairman Kul Bahadur Gurung announced the assembly has elected Ram Baran Yadav, a physician from the Madheshi ethnic community in southern Nepal.
Yadav's victory was a blow for the Maoists, who won the most assembly seats in April elections and hoped to form the country's new government.
