Rebels storm Nepali town
2006-04-24 08:46
Kathmandu - Hundreds of Maoist rebels stormed a town in eastern Nepal and fought a six-hour gun battle with security forces, a senior government official said on Monday, as anti-monarchy protests gripped the capital.
The rebels had attacked the police station, district
administration office, telecommunications tower and a jail at
Chautara, about 100km east of the capital Kathmandu, the official said.
Communication links with the town had been cut, and there
was no word yet on casualties.
"It appears to be a pretty big attack. But we have no
details," the official, who declined to be named, told Reuters.
"District authorities have requested helicopter support and
we are rushing in reinforcements."
Major protests against king
The attack comes as the country's main political parties
continue major street protests against King Gyanendra, who
sacked the government and took full powers in February 2005.
The parties have entered a loose alliance with the Maoists
against the king.
The seven-party alliance said it planned more protests for
Monday and a major rally on Tuesday, during which party leaders
would personally take to the streets for the first time since
this round of protests began on April 6.
Authorities clamped a fresh curfew on the capital from 11:00 in a bid to thwart Monday's planned protests.
Thousands killed in conflict so far
Chautara lies in the hills of Sindhupalchowk district, a
stronghold of the Maoist rebels who have been fighting since
1996 to topple Nepal's Hindu monarchy and set up a single party
communist republic.
More than 13 000 people have died in the conflict so far.