Rebels suspected of powerful Nepal blast

Suspected rebels set off a powerful bomb in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu today, injuring at least 38 people.

Three men took the bomb to a shopping mall that was still under construction and then ran away, police at the scene said.

It exploded minutes later, damaging parts of the building and wounding at least 38 people,.

No one has taken responsibility for the blast but police blamed Maoist rebels who had observed a ceasefire during a religious festival.

The rebels have been fighting since February 1996 to replace the Himalayan kingdom’s monarchy with a communist state. The insurgency has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

Fighting between the rebels, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, and government forces has escalated since the guerrillas withdrew from a seven month ceasefire last year.