9 Nepalese Soldiers Killed in Ambush
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KATMANDU, Nepal — Suspected communist rebels ambushed an army patrol near the Nepalese capital Sunday, killing at least nine soldiers, army officials said. Three rebels were killed in subsequent fighting.
Also Sunday, suspected rebels raided a police station near Hetauda, 30 miles south of Katmandu, and fled with at least 25 guns.
Rebels have stepped up their attacks on government and security forces ahead of the Jan. 13 deadline set by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for rebels to join peace talks. The rebels rejected the deadline.
More than 200 people, including rebels, have died in violent attacks in the last month.
The rebels launched their revolt in 1996 to replace Nepal’s constitutional monarchy with a communist state. The insurgency has claimed more than 10,000 lives.
The insurgency has wrecked Nepal’s economy, which depends on tourism and aid, and has displaced thousands of villagers.
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