Maoists blast Nepali checkpoint, kill 3 soldiers

Kathmandu, Mar 9: Maoist rebels set off a bomb at a security checkpoint in west Nepal today (Mar 9, 2006), killing three soldiers, the army said.

Another five soldiers and policemen were wounded in the explosion at Ghorahi town, 400 km west of Kathmandu, the Himalayan kingdom's capital.

Local journalist Hem Raj Sharma said one civilian was also wounded in the blast.

The latest attack came days ahead of a Maoist move to enforce an indefinite blockade of hill-ringed Kathmandu and other major towns to bring their rebellion to the cities.

The Maoists' blockade, threatened from March 14, is seen as a move to increase pressure on King Gyanendra, who seized absolute power last year vowing to crush the rebels who want to topple the monarchy.

More than 13,000 people have died in the conflict since 1996 with 200 people being killed from January this year.

REUTERS