Former Maoist rebel chief Prachanda was elected as the new Prime Minister of Nepal by the country's parliament. Pushpa Kamal Dahal , who led a decade-long insurgency that toppled a Hindu monarchy, becomes the prime minister after predecessor K.P. Oli resigned rather than face defeat in a vote of no confidence. Minister Khadga Prasad Oli stepped down last week ahead of a no-confidence vote in parliament, which he was expected to lose. The Nepali Congress, the biggest party in parliament, and a number of smaller parties have said they would support Dahal. It is his second time as prime minister ofthe Himalayan nation. Dahal's first tenure ended in 2009 when he resigned over differences with the president about the sacking of an army chief.

Dahal will serve as the 24th prime minister in the 26 years since the nation adopted a multi-party democracy, and the eighth since a 239-year-old monarchy was abolished eight years ago. He led a communist rebellion against the government for a decade until 2006, when the rebels signed a UN-monitored peace agreement. More than 17,000 people were killed during the rebellion.