'Fierce' ex-rebel chief now premier

Two years ago, the chief of Nepal's former Maoist rebels was on the Himalayan nation's most wanted list with a price of more than $70,000 on his head.

But yesterday, Prachanda, who still goes by his nom de guerre meaning "fierce", was sworn in as Nepal's first prime minister, promising to embrace democracy and private investment.

Prachanda, 53, led an insurgency against the monarchy for more than a decade in the jungles of rugged Himalayan foothills.