50 rebels die in raid on Nepalese army base

Nepalese soldiers repelled a major rebel assault on one of their bases in the mountainous north-west today, killing at least 50 communist guerrillas, the army said today.

Hundreds of rebels attacked the base at Khara village, 250 miles from the capital, Kathmandu, last night.

Fighting raged for 12 hours, the Royal Nepalese Army said. It said soldiers recovered at least 50 bodies and that more were believed to be in the area.