Rebels kidnap British soldiers in Nepal

Rebels in Nepal have kidnapped two British army officials from a remote mountainous village.

The British officials were trekking in the area recruiting young Nepalese men to become Gurkhas in the British army, said Prem Narayan Sharma, chief of Baglung district.

They had camped at Lekhali village, about 190 miles north west of the capital, Katmandu, when they were kidnapped last night.

It is the first time foreign nationals have been reported kidnapped by the Maoist rebels since they began their violent campaign in 1996.

The rebels, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, have been fighting since 1996 to abolish Nepal’s constitutional monarchy and set up a communist state.

The government describes them as terrorists.

More than 7,500 people have been killed since the uprising began.