29 Maoist rebels, five soldiers killed in clashes

29 Maoist rebels, five soldiers killed in clashes, which was shut down in a strike called by the guerrillas.

At least 29 Maoist rebels and five soldiers were killed in clashes today in Nepal which was shut down in a strike called by the guerrillas, an army official said.

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Twenty-five rebels and two soldiers were killed in the southern Chitwan district in fighting that erupted after the Maoists attacked an army truck, the official said.

Four rebels and three soldiers were killed in two other clashes in southwestern Nepal, the official said.

He said more Maoists could have died when the army attacked by helicopter but the rebels took away the bodies. It was impossible to verify the tolls independently because of the remoteness of the battle sites.