APSN | Nepal's parliament has elected a new prime minister, raising hopes of a political breakthrough

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Nepal's parliament has elected a new prime minister, raising hopes of a political breakthrough

Agence France Presse - February 10, 2014

Nepal elections: Defeat for Maoists, victory for united left - Viewpoint Online. November 28, 2013
Nepali Congress wins most votes in elections - BBC News. November 29, 2013
Maoist party in Nepal rejects elections - Associated Press. November 21, 2013
Three wounded in bomb blast in Nepal election violence - Associated Press. November 20, 2013
Nepal sees record turnout as voters seek path out of stalemate - Christian Science Monitor. November 19, 2013

Nepal's parliament elected Sushil Koirala as prime minister on Monday, raising hopes of ending a prolonged political crisis and finally restoring stability to the war-torn Himalayan nation.

Mr 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.

Mr 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.