Kathmandu, March 19: Nepal cabinet has named Dr Chandra Kanta Poudel and Maoist central leader Ram Karki as the ambassadors to India and France respectively.

The ambassador-nominees are required to undergo parliamentary hearing before being appointed to their posts.

Paudel, 54, holds a doctorate in economics from Tribhuvan University. He served as headmaster at Birendra Secondary School in Nuwakot before moving to Kathmandu where he has since been working as principal of Gyankunja College at Rabibhavan.

Paudel will replace Durgeshman Singh, a Nepali Congress appointee.

Karki, ambassador-designate to France, is a politburo member of the Unified CPN (Maoist). Earlier, Karki was the party''s first choice as the ambassador to India.

Earlier, the government had recommended Maoist leader Pampha Bhusal, currently minister for general administration, in September 2007. But France rejected the appointment because her name featured in the Interpol Red corner notice, Kantipur reported. (ANI)