Maoists, Nepal Army fight pitched battle

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal" style="" text-align:="" justify="">KATHMANDU: Fierce fighting that followed Maoist attacks on security bases in Nepal''s south-eastern district has left more than 32 Maoists and four security personnel dead, government officials said on Tuesday.<br /><br />The attack came as the 100 day mark of the King''s direct rule approached on Wednesday "We have recovered the bodies of 26 Maoists this morning," Maj Sushil Dahal, officer of the Royal Nepalese Army''s department of public relations said.He also confirmed that security forces had lost four members — three policemen and an RNA soldier.<br /><br />The fighting erupted on late Monday night when rebel Maoists launched a massed and concerted attack at three security bases in Siraha district, about 250 km south-east of Kathmandu. <br /><br />Security sources in Kathmandu said the rebels launched a three-pronged attack on two bases and one police post in Bandipur, Chorahawa and Mirchaiya in Siraha Monday night, taking the security forces by surprise. The fighting continued till early Tuesday.<br /><br />There are reports that more than 30 government security men went missing after the fighting. But Maj Dahal denied the reports.<br /><br />"They went out of communication for some time, but have come in contact with our bases this morning," he said. The fighting was fierce. The three bases are all situated near one of Nepal''s key highways. <br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal" style="" text-align:="" justify=""><br />Reports said rebels felled trees on the highways to block security reinforcements. However, helicopter gunships from Kathmandu were rushed in the night to counter the attack. "We successfully managed to repel the attack," Maj Dahal said.<br /><br />The Maoists have not yet put out a statement regarding the attack. Given Nepal''s strict media censorship laws in force since King Gyanendra''s royal coup of February 1, it is difficult to independently verify death tolls in the fighting.<br /><br />Meanwhile, US secretary of state for South Asian affairs Christina Rocca and Nepalese leaders discussed the political situation and the roadmap for the return to democracy on Tuesday. <br /><br />Rocca''s three-day visit is the first to the Kingdom by a top American official since King Gyanendra''s power grab. Her visit comes at a time when the embattled monarch is facing increased opposition at the domestic level. During her parleys with the vice-chairmen of the council of ministers, Tulasi Giri and Kirtinidhi Bista, Rocca expressed the US government''s concern and urged for the restoration of the democratic system. </div> </div>