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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Nepal forces clash with rebels |
| 2004-11-16 |
| Nepalese security forces and Maoist rebels have clashed in two districts west of the capital, authorities say. Casualty figures are unclear, but some reports say at least 10 people died in the fighting. Violence has escalated in Nepal after a temporary truce between the government and the rebels ended last month. Meanwhile, rebel leader Prachanda has renewed calls for international mediation and urged foreign donors to stop supporting the Himalayan kingdom. A senior official from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Nepal's biggest donor, voiced concern about the escalating violence and said peace was vital for economic progress in the impoverished nation. The authorities said security forces clashed with the rebels in Dhading, 90km (50 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu, as well as in the far western district of Kailali. One report on Reuters news agency said six policemen and a soldier had died when the rebels fired on them from heavily-forested hills in their stronghold of Kailali. This has not been confirmed. The authorities said the clash in Dhading occurred when security forces were trying to force open a highway linking the capital with the rest of the country. They rejected reports that a number of soldiers had died in an ambush in the area, but said the rebels had suffered significant casualties. There has been no word from the rebels on the latest violence. |
| Posted by:Steve |