Soldiers and rebels killed in clashes
A land-mine blast and clashes between security forces and Maoist rebels have left 11 guerrillas and six soldiers and police officers dead.
A land-mine blast and ensuing clashes between Nepalese security forces and Maoist rebels have left at least 11 guerrillas and six soldiers and police officers dead, security sources said Wednesday.
The four soldiers and two policemen were killed when their vehicle ran over the mine planted by rebels in Dhading district, around 90 kilometres (56 miles) west of Kathmandu on Tuesday, the source said.
Heavy fighting between the two sides broke out after troop reinforcements were rushed to the area. State-run RSS news agency said 11 Maoist rebels were killed in the clashes.
In a separate incident, three people were injured when an ambulance heading towards Hetauda, south of the capital, was ambushed on Tuesday.
The rebels have been fighting for a communist republic in Nepal since 1996 and the uprising has so far claimed more than 9,500 lives.