He was sworn in by Chief Justice Kedar Prasad Giri and took the salute from a special dais as an army band played Nepal's new national anthem. Later, Chief of Army Staff, Gen Rookmangud Katuwal assured President Yadav that he would safeguard Nepal's national unity and territorial integrity.The conversation was heard audibly live on nationally-broadcast television, and Nepalis saw the army chief smartly salute the country's first president.

In an afternoon full of symbolism, President Yadav told those gathered inside his office that he would do everything in his power to preserve democratic values and strive for the development of the Nepali nation. Earlier, he had drove into Sital Nibas in the bullet-proof stretched Jaguar, that the president inherited from ex-king Gyanendra.

Vice-president Parmananda Jha was standing alongside throughout. He was dressed in a dhoti and kurta and repeated sentences of his oath of office in Hindi as President Yadav read them out in Nepali.

CA members, including from the Maoist party, stood in a long line to shake hands with the new president and vice-president. Many had brought along bouquets of flowers and khadas.

After the ceremony, President Yadav drove through rain-swept streets in a motorcade to the Martyr's memorial at Tundikhel to lay a wreath.

Soon after the ceremony, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala presented his resignation from prime minsitership to President Ram Baran Yadav. Meanwhile, the UML's Subhas Nembang has been elected unopposed to the post of CA Speaker. Analysts said the fact that the Maoists also voted for Nembang is a good sign and it could mean that they will ultimately come around to leading the next government.