Former Maoist rebel leader seeks Nepal's PM job
Updated
The leader of Nepal's former rebel Maoists has announced that he will stand in elections to become the Himalayan country's first post-royal prime minister.
Nepal has been in political limbo since the country's 240-year-old monarchy was abolished in late May.
The former guerrillas and mainstream political parties have been unable to agree on who would run the new government.
Maoist leader, Prachanda, told reporters the months of political deadlock have come to an end - after filing his candidacy for the prime ministerial election set for Friday.
The Maoists, once feared rebels, are now Nepal's most potent political force.
They won just over one-third of the seats in the body that formally abolished the monarchy.
The 595 lawmakers will vote on Friday to decide who will be the prime minister, with the winner needing a simple majority of at least 298 votes.
