Monday, February 14 2005 15:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Consolidating his hold on power, Nepal King Gyanendra today (Feb 14, 2005) appointed two old-time Palace loyalists Tulsi Giri and Kirtinidhi Bishta as Vice Chairmen of Council of Ministers headed by him.

Eighty-year old Giri, a seasoned politician, was made Cabinet chairman by late King Mahendra, father of king Gyanendra in 1961 after dismissing the elected Government of B P Koirala and banning all political parties in 1960. Giri held this post for four years. He recently returned from Sri Lanka, where he has been staying on his own for the past several years.

Bishta, 79, served as Prime Minister four times in 1969, 1971, 1972 and 1977 and is known as a pro-China politician.

With the appointment of Giri and Bishta as Vice Chairmen, the strength of Council of Ministers installed by King Gyanendra has gone up to 12.

According to an official news agency, Giri will be First Vice Chairman and will hold the portfolios of Law and Justice, Land Reforms, Science and Technology, Water Resources, Forest and Fuel Conservation.

Bishta, the Second Vice Chairman, has been given the charge of Industry and Commerce, Population and Environment, health and Agriculture among others.

Meanwhile the authorities have released former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and a dozen other politicians and human rights activists, detained after the royal takeover of February 1.