Date:20/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/20/stories/2004122006121400.htm

International

9 soldiers die in Nepal ambush

KATHMANDU, DEC. 19. Suspected Communist rebels ambushed an army patrol near the Nepalese capital today, killing at least nine soldiers, army officials said. Three rebels were killed in fighting that followed the ambush.

The army patrol team was carrying out a search operation at Mudhe near Dolakha district near Kathmandu when the rebels attacked, an army official at the site said on condition of anonymity.

Also today, suspected Maoist rebels raided a police station near Hetauda, around 150 km south of Kathmandu, and fled with at least 25 guns.

Maoist rebels have stepped up their attacks on Government and security forces ahead of a government deadline to begin negotiations for ending the long-running militancy.

More than 20 persons, including rebels, have died in violent attacks in the last month. The rebels have been fighting since Febuary 1996 to replace Nepal's monarchy with a Communist state.

The militancy has claimed more than 10,000 lives.