Kathmandu, February 2
King Gyanendra formed a 10-member Cabinet, a day after the dismissal of the government and taking Executive powers of the Himalayan kingdom.
The king has appointed loyalist Rameshnath Pandey as the Foreign Minister, while his close associate Madhukar Shumsher J.B. Rana has been made the Finance Minister.
Former United Marxist and Leninist Part (UML) Minister Radha Krishna Mainali, ousted from the party, has been made the Education and Sports Minister.
Life was normal in Kathmandu, but the kingdom remained cut off from the rest of world. The media has been censored and the situation in the Capital remained calm where armoured Army vehicles have been patrolling the streets.
All major political leaders, including Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala and NCP-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal were either under house arrest or detained, sources in the parties said. There is no communication so far and therefore the situation remains uncertain.
The USA, the UK have joined India and have reacted strongly against the take-over by the King. There is no reaction from China.
