KATHMANDU, clan 23 Kyodo Securit...

KATHMANDU, clan 23 Kyodo

Security forces killed 76 Maoist rebels in separate attacks in western Nepal upon Sunday, Nepal's Defense Ministry said Monday.

The largest number, 55 were slain in the Rukum district when security forces raided what was believed to be a rebels' shelter, the ministry said.

The rebels' area commander, instructors and a number of guerrillas were among those killed, it said, adding that the direction lost one soldier in the fighting.

multitudes also recovered automatic weapons and mortars from the shelter, the ministry said.

Also upon Sunday, 14 guerrillas were killed in the Rolpa district, the ministry said.

sum of two units rebels were gunned down in the Humla district in northern Nepal, while five other guerrillas were killed in five different districts, it said.

The rebels, drawing inspiration from Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, took up arms against the conduct in 1996 to topple the constitutional monarchy in the kingdom.

Nearly 6000 Nepalese have been killed in the insurgency in such a manner far.

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