The Hindu : International : Six soldiers killed in Maoist attack

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Sunday, Jun 12, 2005

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International

Six soldiers killed in Maoist attack

2 civilians also die in the bus ambush

KATHMANDU: Communist rebels ambushed a public bus east of Nepal's capital, killing at least six soldiers and two civilians on board, officials said on Saturday.

The rebels hid in bushes beside the mountainous highway and fired at the passing bus Friday evening, the Royal Nepalese Army headquarters said in a statement.

The soldiers were riding on the bus along with a large number of civilians.

One soldier and two civilians were also wounded in the attack near Narke village, 120 km east of Kathmandu.

The officials, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said the injured had been flown to an army hospital. The soldier was in critical condition, they said.

The attack came several days after rebel leaders announced a policy of not attacking civilian vehicles or targets.

On Monday, the guerillas bombed a civilian bus in southern Nepal, killing at least 38 persons and wounding 71.

The rebels later claimed responsibility for the bombing, but said it was a mistake.

There was no immediate rebel comment on the latest attack.

Rebels kiled

Separately, at least six rebels were killed on Friday at Begnaha village when a bomb they were carrying accidentally exploded, a local government official said on the customary condition of anonymity.

The rebels stopped to get some water to drink at a home, about 500 km west of Kathmandu, when it detonated.

The house owner and four members of his family were injured.

Fighting between the rebels and government troops has escalated since King Gyanendra took absolute power earlier this year, promising to quell the communist insurgency. — AP

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