Nepalese rebels kill 56 police and soldiers
Maoist rebels fighting to topple Nepal’s monarchy attacked two remote towns, killing at least 56 security personnel and dimming prospects for peace talks.
The fighting broke out in the Himalayan kingdom last night, just hours after a top official reiterated that the government was working to start a dialogue in response to the rebel commander’s latest offer to talk peace.
In Khalanga, 375 miles north-west of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, the assault began just before midnight and continued until daybreak.
Communications were cut off an hour after the assault began, and helicopters bringing reinforcements were unable to land because of fog and smoke from buildings torched by the rebels.
The bodies of 30 policemen and three soldiers were later recovered, an officer said. He said the casualty figures could be much higher, which may make it hard for the government to push for peace talks.
There are no roads to the town, where about 800 policemen and soldiers are based.
In a separate attack in north-western Nepal, rebels killed 23 policemen and wounded 13 as they swarmed over a police station in the town of Tarkokat.
Though both sides have expressed willingness to talk peace, neither has made real progress toward negotiations and the fighting has continued.
On Wednesday the leader of the rebels repeated an offer to pursue negotiations. Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who calls himself The Fierce One made the offer after a three- day nationwide strike ordered by the rebels.
The rebels claim to be inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong.
The insurgency has killed more than 7,000 people, most of them after Nepal’s king imposed a state of emergency in November 2001 and ordered the army to join the police in fighting the rebels.
