Nepal extends state of emergency for three months

Nepal’s parliament has approved a three-month extension of the state of emergency declared to facilitate a military crackdown on Maoist rebels who resumed their war against the government last year.

The state of emergency was imposed on November 26th after the rebels ended peace talks and continued their fight to have the constitutional monarchy abolished and replaced by a socialist system.

Last weekend, the Maoist guerrillas killed 77 policemen, 55 soldiers, one intelligence officer and four civilians in an attack in Mangalsen, the district headquarters of Achham.

Nepal’s Defence Ministry said its soldiers have killed 48 rebels in the area since the attack.

More than 2,400 people have died since the rebels began fighting in 1996.