Kathmandu, Dec. 26 -- Newly appointed Foreign Minister Balananda Sharma was sworn in on Friday.

President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Sharma at the President's Office in Sheetal Niwas. Prime Minister Sushila Karki appointed him foreign minister earlier in the day.

This is the fifth Cabinet expansion by Karki, who leads an interim government mandated to hold the House of Representatives elections on March 5. The Cabinet is now 15-strong.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Vice-President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister Karki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions, security chie...