Nepal rebels attack town, curfew in capital

KATHMANDU - Hundreds of Maoist rebels stormed a town in eastern Nepal and fought a six-hour gun battle with security forces, a senior government official said today as anti-monarchy protests gripped the capital.

The rebels had attacked the police station, district administration office, telecommunications tower and a jail at Chautara, about 100 km east of the capital Kathmandu, the official said.

Communication links had been cut with the town, and there was no word yet on casualties.

"It appears to be a pretty big attack. But we have no details," the official, who declined to be named, told Reuters.

"District authorities have requested helicopter support and we are rushing in reinforcements."

The attack comes as the country's main political parties continue major street protests against King Gyanendra, who sacked the government and took full powers in February 2005.

The parties have entered a loose alliance with the Maoists against the king.

The seven-party alliance said it planned more protests for Monday and a major rally on Tuesday in which party leaders would personally take to the streets for the first time since this round of protests began on April 6.

Authorities clamped a fresh curfew on the capital from 11am (5.15pm NZT) in a bid to thwart today's planned protests.

Chautara lies in the hills of Sindhupalchowk district, a stronghold of the Maoist rebels who have been fighting since 1996 to topple Nepal's Hindu monarchy and set up a single party communist republic.

More than 13,000 people have died in the conflict so far.

- REUTERS