Soldiers die in Nepal 'attack'

Nepal has been fighting a Maoist insurgency for a decade

At least three soldiers have been killed in an attack by suspected Maoist rebels in south-western Nepal, officials say.

Five policemen and a civilian were hurt in the attack on a security checkpoint in Tribhuvan Nagar in Dang district.

The rebels have not commented on Thursday morning's incident.

Violence has escalated across Nepal since the rebels abandoned a four-month unilateral ceasefire in January after the government refused to reciprocate.

A local official told the BBC that the security check post had been sent up to keep a vigil on the movement of suspected Maoist rebels in the area.

Violence

Earlier this week, Maoist rebels freed more than 100 prisoners in an attack on a hill town in eastern Nepal.

At least 12 people, including seven rebels, were also killed in the clashes that followed the attack in Ilam Bazar.

Last week, more than 30 people died in clashes between troops and Maoist rebels in south-western Nepal.

More than 13,000 people have been killed in violence in Nepal since the rebels took up arms 10 years ago.

Sphere: Related Content