Nepal troops kill 10 rebels: Defense Ministry

The guerrillas, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, began fighting in 1996 to create a socialist state.

The Nepal Defence ministry has said that the troops have killed over 10 communist rebels since the end of the ceasefire last month.

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The rebels were killed in a clash on Thursday in Chitre area, about 200 kilometres west of the capital, Defence Ministry spokesman Bhupendra Poudel said. A large number of arms and ammunition were recovered after the gunfight, Poudel said.

A series of bold attacks have been launched in western Nepal since the rebels announced the end of the unilateral, four-month cease-fire on January 2. Several policemen have been killed and wounded.

The guerrillas, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, began fighting in 1996 to create a socialist state. The insurgency has claimed about 12,000 lives.