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Nepal's rebel-turned-prime minister Prachanda has resigned following a stand-off with the president, leaving the impoverished country in political limbo. Prachanda -- whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal, but who goes by a nom-de-guerre meaning fierce one -- stepped down on Monday over a dispute opposing his ex-rebel camp and the regular army. The Maoist government sacked the army chief on Sunday for refusing to integrate 19,000 former Maoist rebel soldiers into the regular army as stipulated by the peace accord. President Ram Baran Yadav, a member of the main opposition party, on Monday told the head of the army -- traditionally a bastion of Nepal's elite and the former monarchy -- to stay put. Prachanda argues that the long-running dispute between the government and military is merely part of a wider campaign to undermine the former rebels who scored a surprise win in elections last year. File footage of Prachanda. Kathmandu, Nepal. (Footage by AFPTV via Getty Images)