Nepal's former Supreme Court chief justice Sushila Karki has become the country's interim prime minister after deadly anti-corruption protests ousted the government.
The 73-year-old was sworn in during a brief ceremony, becoming the first woman to lead the impoverished Himalayan nation after a deal was reached with protest leaders.
More than 50 people were killed in clashes with riot police during this week's mass protests sparked by a ban on social media platforms. The ban was lifted on Monday - but by then protests had swelled into a mass movement. Angry crowds set fire to parliament and government buildings in the capital Kathmandu on Tuesday, forcing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.
Earlier on Friday, President Ram Chandra Poudel's press adviser had confirmed to the BBC that Karki would take the oath of office that evening. The agreement between the president and the protest leaders was reached after days of consultations with legal experts.
Parliament was dissolved late on Friday, and it was announced that general elections would be held on March 5 next year. Karki is expected to appoint ministers to her cabinet within a few days and is widely regarded as having a clean image.
However, her cabinet will face multiple challenges, including restoring law and order, managing reconstruction efforts after the violence, and addressing the demands of the youth-led 'Gen Z' movement.
Another critical task will be to bring those responsible for the unrest to justice. The unrest was ignited by the government's decision to ban 26 social media platforms, including WhatsApp and Facebook, which many viewed as a suppressive attack on freedom of expression.
Karki's appointment marks a compromise amidst ongoing tensions and reflects the populace's desire for reform in the face of longstanding political dissatisfaction.
