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| Sunday, 5 May 2002 |
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Nepal troops drop from air in search for rebels KATHMANDU, May 4 (Reuters) - Nepal said on Saturday troops had dropped from helicopters in the search for rebels in the west after killing at least 90 Maoist guerrillas fighting to topple the constitutional monarchy. "We have intensified the search for rebels and the weapons they had looted from security forces in the past," Junior Home (interior) Minister Devendra Raj Kandel told Reuters. He said troops had been dropped by helicopters in the Lisne area of Rolpa, the site of this week's deadly battle. "Soldiers are now surrounding the hill-top jungle site (of this week's battle) in Rolpa and have blocked exits." Rolpa is the epicentre of the six-year-old Maoist rebellion that has so far claimed over 3,800 lives in the Himalayan kingdom. It is about 450 km (280 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu. Officials said at least 90 Maoist insurgents fighting to set up a communist republic were killed in two overnight assaults by government forces on Thursday. The government has since rejected a rebel offer to resume peace talks. This week's battles were among the deadliest and the rebel toll was the highest since some 250 guerrillas were believed killed in neighbouring Dang district in April. The Maoist rebellion that started in early 1996 has crippled Nepal's aid-dependent economy and hit tourism in the scenic nation home to Mount Everest and the birthplace of Lord Buddha. |
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