A clash between government troops and communist rebels killed at least 15 people overnight in eastern Nepal, officials said Tuesday, in the latest violence since the king imposed emergency rule and vowed to bring the insurgency under control.
Thousands of soldiers were sweeping through the rebels' stronghold in the western mountains, destroying bases and ammunition dumps in an operation to flush out the insurgents.
The fighting comes two weeks after King Gyanendra dismissed the government, suspended civil liberties and declared an emergency. The king said the move was necessary to restore order and combat the communist insurgency.
The dozen rebels were gunned down overnight near Jante village, about 310 miles east of the capital, Katmandu. Three soldiers were killed and another one was reported missing in the clash, said the Royal Nepalese Army headquarters in Katmandu.
The government has said it would use force to resolve the conflict if the rebels refused to settle the issue peacefully.
