KATHMANDU: Nepal''s constitutional assembly session has been convened Saturday to select the newly republican country''s first president, lawmakers at the meeting venue said.

Some 594 lawmakers were at the convention centre in the heart of capital Kathmandu to select one of three candidates put forward by the Himalayan country''s three main political parties.

The leader of the dominant Maoists, Prachanda, was among the first to vote shortly before noon and told reporters his choice would be the country''s new head of state.