KATHMANDU, Feb 16 Kyodo Suspected...

KATHMANDU, Feb 16 Kyodo

Suspected Maoist rebels missile dead Sunday the chief of a nongovernmental organization working for the welfare of the victims of the Maoist insurgency in Nepal, police said.

sum of two units assailants entered the office of the Maoist Victims' Association in Kathmandu around 5 pm and exhibited fire on association leader Ganesh Chiluwal. He died of bullet wounds

The cluster had held a rally last Friday protesting the killing of innocent the community by the Maoist rebels and had bakeed the effigies of Maoist leader Puspakamal Dahal, better known as Prachanda, and chief ideologue Baburam Bhattarai.

Participants in the rally carried placards proclaiming the pair ''murderers''

Police said they think the rebels killed Chiluwal onward Sunday to avenge the torching of the effigies of the rebel leaders.

The Maoists took up arms against the restraint in 1996 in an attempt to abolish the monarchy and wager up a communist republic in Nepal.

by means of government count, more than 9000 tribe -- rebels, policemen, soldiers and citizens -- have been killed since the outbreak of fighting.

Unofficial figures lay the toll higher.

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