Thursday, January 12 2006 15:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: In the biggest attack against the Government since the withdrawal of unilateral ceasefire by Maoists, more than a thousand armed rebels stormed over half a dozen government offices, including an army barrack and police post in western Nepal.

The offensive which began at around 7 pm yesterday and continued till late in the night, targeted the area police post, district police office, army barrack, district administration office, land revenue office and district education office in Dhangadhi municipality area of Kailali district, 650 km west of Kathmandu. However, no casualties were reported on the side of the security forces though some government buildings located at Dhangadhi Municipality were damaged, Army sources said.

Earlier, reports said about 10 security personnel were missing after the rebels attacked the district police office.

An army official at the Headquarters said all "our men are in touch and there is no loss on the side of security forces".

The Maoists left the district headquarters after the security forces retaliated, he said, adding, "We have foiled their attempt to capture the district headquarters without major damage".

The rebels also detonated a bomb at the Bardia District Development Committee office yesterday, police said. The building was slightly damaged but no one was injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, seven Maoist cadres including an area committee members and three child soldiers have surrendered before the district administration in Doti, Radio Nepal said.