Friday, February 18 2005 13:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: At least 40 maoists were killed in skirmishes in various parts of Nepal during security operations, Nepalese Army sources said.

They claimed at least 25 rebels were killed in an operation launched by security forces at Kureli area of Rolpa district in western Nepal.

According to eyewitnesses and circumstantial evidence, at least 25 rebels were killed when the Army raided a gathering of around 800 Maoists in the area, the Army said in a release yesterday (Feb 17, 2005).

Two rebels were killed in two separate incidents in Tehrathum and Baitadi districts, the Army said. A maoist was killed when a socket bomb he was carrying exploded at Dhungepani area in Baitadi district.

A dozen maoist rebels were killed during a clash between locals and the rebels at Jhuga of Ganeshpur village in Kapilvastu district yesterday, media reports in Kathmandu said.

The maoists were killed when they clashed with local people after the rebels refused to release two people abducted by them, The Himalayan Times reported.