Nepal has appointed its first female prime minister, following a week of deadly protests.
Former Supreme Court chief justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as interim prime minister by Nepal‘s president, Ramchandra Paudel, on Friday.
The 73-year-old served as the court’s only female chief justice in 2016 and 2017 and was popular in the role.
The move follows massive protests that collapsed the previous administration.
Rallies began after the government decided to ban social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, and were also in protest at alleged government corruption.
Violence over the past seven days has left at least 51 dead.
Peaceful street demonstrations began on Monday in Kathmandu but ended with some protesters attacking government buildings and police opening fire.
Officers also fired tear gas and used water cannon, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Nepal’s Parliament House, in Kathmandu, was set alight during protests. Pic: AP
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The ban was rescinded the following day, but the unrest continued, with tens of thousands of protesters attacking and burning the parliament, the presidential residence and private businesses.
Luxury hotels, including the Hilton and Hyatt were set on fire, and a jailbreak also took place in the heart of the capital.
A demonstrator outside Nepal’s Supreme Court during protests. Pic: Reuters
The violence prompted prime minister Khadga Prasad Oli to resign on Tuesday and flee his official residence.
Nepal’s army took control of the capital on Tuesday night, restoring order and initiating negotiations among the protesters, army and president over the interim government.
Nepal is no stranger to unrest, with large pro-democracy protests in 1990 and the anti-monarchy 2006 demonstrations that ended with the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.