Two killed in Nepal bomb attack

Maoist rebels detonated a bomb at a checkpoint in southern Nepal today, killing two policemen and injuring eight civilians.

The explosion at the checkpoint near the town of Bhirahawa, about 175 miles south-west of Katmandu, killed the two policeman on the spot.

The eight injured were passengers inside a bus waiting for a security check. They have been taken to a hospital and are in stable condition.

A local rebel leader has claimed responsibility for the blast.

Meanwhile, a trade union affiliated with the rebels forced at least 35 private businesses across this Himalayan nation to shut down, accusing them of exploiting workers and supporting the government. The union also called on the government to release detained members.

In the past few weeks, the Maoist rebels have bombed two luxury hotels in Katmandu and a half dozen businesses in other parts of Nepal.

The rebels say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong and want to replace Nepal’s monarchy with a communist state. The insurgency has claimed more than 10,000 lives since 1996.

Fighting between rebels and government forces has escalated since the last round of peace talks broke down in August 2003.