Hundreds killed in Nepal battle

HUNDREDS of rebels and at least 18 police and soldiers were killed in some of Nepal’s fiercest fighting since a ceasefire collapsed more than seven months ago, government officials said yesterday.

It happened when rebels swarmed into Beni, a mountain town 175 miles west of capital Katmandu and fought with security forces for nearly 12 hours before being chased away by reinforcements.

The rebels attacked the town’s jail, bombed the district administration office and set fire to the police station. They also attacked an army camp, Royal Nepalese Army spokesman Col Deepak Gurung said.

Col Gurung said 11 army soldiers and seven police were killed and two soldiers and 16 police were injured.