The leader of Nepal's Maoists, Prachanda, was sworn in as prime minister of the new republic Monday, finalising his transformation from warlord to the country's most powerful politician.

The former rebel chief was overwhelmingly voted in as Nepal's new premier on Friday by lawmakers in the constitutional assembly, which in May abolished the unpopular 240-year-old Hindu monarchy.

"I will remain faithful to the nation and my countrymen, and promise in the name of the people that I will remain faithful to the sovereign nation of Nepal," he said in his oath of office.

Prachanda's real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal, but he chooses to go by a nom-de-guerre meaning "fierce one."

Dressed in a grey suit and tie and wearing a traditional Nepali cap, the ex-rebel leader -- once Nepal's most-wanted man -- looked ill at ease as he was feted by a guard of honour and watched by an large audience of dignitaries, among them scores of foreign diplomats.

A Nepal Army band played the new republic's national anthem at the function, which was held in the lush gardens of the president's office and residence in central Kathmandu.

After the oath had been read and he had signed the document, Prachanda visibly relaxed and smiled as he received congratulations from Nepal's new president, politicians and foreign ambassadors.

"The priority is to take this peace process to a logical end," Prachanda told reporters in his new office shortly after the swearing-in ceremony.

"I will also create an environment conducive to constitution-drafting which will be our first priority," he said.

The ultra-leftists are still in negotiations with their political allies over the make-up of the incoming government.

"We are in talks with members of the alliance and will form a government as soon as possible," Maoist spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara told.

Prachanda, a former school teacher, led a decade-long insurgency against the monarchy that claimed at least 13,000 lives before signing up for peace in 2006, when he vowed to renounce violence and embrace multi-party democracy.

The Maoists won the elections to the new constitutional assembly in April, positioning themselves to push through what they vow will be a radical programme of reform in one of the world's poorest countries.

Nepal is desperate for financial assistance to help it recover from the civil war that devastated the economy.

"We have huge responsibilities ahead," said the Maoist spokesman.

"We have to restructure the state. People have high hopes for us, and we will not let the people down."

High on the new government's agenda will be swiftly tackling crippling fuel and food shortages as well as bringing about "socio-economic transformation through land reform."

The Maoist-led government will be in charge of drafting a new constitution and establishing a ministerial body to address the fate of 19,000 Maoist guerrillas confined to camps as part of the 2006 peace deal.

A major challenge will be how to implement plans to integrate them into the former Royal Nepal army.

Law and order has also deteriorated across the country, particularly in the southern Terai region, where violent unrest has been simmering for two years.

Source: AFP

In a bid to attract more trekkers in the controlled areas, the government has revised permit fee in different controlled areas of the country. The notice regarding the revision of permit fee was published in Nepal Gazette (Volume 58 No 10) and the revised permit fee will come to effect from Shrawan 1, 2065 (July 16, 2008).

As per the new provision, a trekker in Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpo has to pay US $ 500 or equivalent foreign currency per person for first 10 days. Likewise, fee for per extra day per person has been fixed at US $ 50 or equivalent foreign currency. Trekker in Manasulu Region needs to pay US $ 70 for a week and US $ 10 per person for each extra day during September to November. However, only US $ 50 is charged per trekker per week during December to August and additional US $ 7 per trekker per each extra day. Similarly, permit fee for Humla (Simikot-Yari) has been fixed at US $ 50 per person per week and US $ 7 per person per extra day.

Likewise, permit fee for Kanchanjunga, Lower Dolpa and Gaurishankar and Lamabagar has been fixed at US $ 10 per person per week. However, permit fee for Chekampar and Chunchet of Gorkha district (Sirdibas-Lhokpa-Chumling-Chekampar-Nile-Chule) has been fixed at US $ 35 per person for eight days during September to November and US $ 25 per person per eight days during December to August.

Similarly, the government has also revised existing tourist visa fee to be effective from Shrawan 1, 2065 (July 16, 08). As per the new fee structure, US $ 25 or equivalent foreign currency is required to obtain Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 15 days. Likewise, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 30 days can be obtained by paying US $ 40 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entry for 100 days can be obtained by paying US $ 100.

Likewise, the government has also revised fee required to extend days of stay and visa renewal. As per the revise fee structure, Tourist Visa can be extended by paying US $ 2 or equivalent Nepalese currency per day. Likewise, Multiple Entry facility can be obtained only for the extension period by additional US $ 20 and visa fee for the extended period. Similarly, tourists can renew their visa by paying Nepalese currency equivalent to US $ 3 on the regular visa extension fee.