Ram Chandra Paudel begins 5-year term as Nepal's 3rd president

ANKARA

Ram Chandra Paudel has become Nepal's third president since the Himalayan landlocked country's centuries-old monarchy was overthrown in 2008.

President Paudel took the oath of office on Monday at a special ceremony in the capital Kathmandu, where Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal also presented a farewell gift to outgoing President Bidya Devi Bhandari on behalf of the government.

Bhandari has served her maximum two terms in office.

Paudel, a senior leader of the major political party Nepali Congress, was elected president on Thursday.

Prior to his new role, the veteran politician was elected six times as a member of parliament, once as a speaker, and five times as a cabinet minister.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid