Kathmandu: At least nine policemen were killed when Maoists attacked a security post in Nepal's South-eastern Dhanusha district, police sources said.

Nearly 500 rebels stormed the police post at Ilaka Police Office at Yadukuha in Dhanusha district in central Terai last night (Apr 4, 2004) sparking a gun battle, which lasted around three hours, they said.

A police inspector and eight police constables were shot dead by the guerrillas fighting to topple constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy.

Seven policemen were also injured while 19 are still missing from the 35-member police post, they said, adding there were no reports yet about the number of Maoists killed in the incident.

The latest attack came a day before the start of a three-day general strike in the Himalayan kingdom called by the rebels.

In separate encounters at least six Maoists were killed. Three rebels trying to set an ambush targeting a security van were shot dead at Hasuliya village development committee in Kailali district in far west Nepal, the State-run Radio Nepal said.

Three women rebels were killed during an operation at Laduk village development committee in Dolakha district yesterday (Apr 4, 2004), it said.