Nepal's newly appointed Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa took oath Thursday at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace in Kathmandu, the Nepal Television reported.
King Gyanendra, Crown Prince Paras and members of the Royal Advisory Committee participated in the ceremony.
Talking to journalists after assumption in the prime minister's office, Thapa said that his top priority will be forming a new government by consulting with leaders of all the political parties in the country.
On the time frame of the formation of his government, Thapa said his efforts to rope in the leaders of all the main political parties in his Cabinet might take some time.
"Meanwhile, the peace talks with the anti-government guerrillas will continue, and the new government will make efforts to solve the problem as early as possible in a bid to maintain peace and stability in our country," he added.
Nepali King Gyanendra on Wednesday appointed Surya Bahadur Thapa as prime minister in a bid to seek national consensus while forming a new government in the near future.
Thapa, 75, ex-chairman and founding father of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, has been appointed as chairman of the Council of Ministers or prime minister separately in 1963, 1966 and 1979 during the Panchayat period, and also been elected as prime minister in 1997.
(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2003)
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