NEPAL (voa) – Nepal’s Defense Ministry says its soldiers have killed at least 76 Maoist rebels in a stepped-up offensive against a rebellion aimed at overthrowing the country’s constitutional monarchy.
The ministry says 67 of those killed had been involved in daring attacks on an army post on February 16, in which more than 150 people, mostly police and soldiers, were killed.
The ministry says the rebels had escaped and were hiding in the forests west of Kathmandu.
The other nine rebels were killed in three separate clashes in nearby districts.
Nepal has stepped up its counter-insurgency drive after the February 16 rebel attacks and has given government forces extra powers to deal with the rebels.
The rebellion has claimed more than 2.500 lives and while badly damaging the economy of one of the poorest nations of the world.
