Ex-rebel nominated to be president
A 72-year-old politician who once faced a death sentence on charges of bombing targets in the capital city Kathmandu is likely to become Nepal's first president.
Members of Nepal's Constituent Assembly are scheduled to elect the first president of the new republic on Saturday.
Ramraja Singh was nominated as their candidate to contest the presidential election by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), the former communist rebels who have emerged as the largest political party in this Himalayan nation.
The Maoists have 220 members in the 601-seat assembly.
Mr Singh has the backing of three other smaller political parties representing the Madheshi, a minority ethnic group in southern Nepal who have been campaigning for autonomy and greater rights.