Maoist rebels kill 49 Nepalese policemen in attack on station

Maoist rebels killed 49 Nepalese policemen in an attack on a remote station in the early hours of yesterday.

Thousands of rebels took part in the raid, which led to five hours of gunfire. Apart from the policemen killed, 19 were injured, the Home Ministry said. Maoist casualties had been recovered.

The attack at Bihman village in the Sindhuli district, 90 miles east of Kathmandu, was the deadliest Maoist action for months. Since Nepal's 10-month state of emergency expired 10 days ago, there have been daily bombings and shootings in the capital, Kathmandu, which have claimed the life of one soldier. The rebels have called a national strike for next Monday.

Raj Kadel, a Home minister, said the Maoists were armed with automatic weapons, while the police had bolt-action .303 rifles. "Some policemen who had surrendered after they had exhausted their ammunition were shot dead by the guerrillas," he said. The government has been urged by Western donors, opposition parties and the press not to renew the state of emergency before elections in November. However, Mr Kedel said the emergency was now likely to be reimposed.