17 Maoists killed in western Nepal

"At least 17 Maoists were killed in clashes with security forces at Mulpani village in Dailekh district last morning," the source said.

There has been a series of bloody clashes between rebels fighting to topple the monarchy and soldiers as well as bombings in the impoverished Hindu kingdom in recent days.

The army's report of new rebel killings came on top of 21 rebel deaths announced Tuesday by the army. There has been no comment from the rebels on how many casualties they have suffered in the two days of fighting.

On Wednesday, the army said 21 troops and 39 rebels died in that clash while the Maoists said more than two dozen soldiers and six rebels died.

Wednesday's army losses were among the heaviest in months.

Military helicopters and troop reinforcements have been sent to the mountainous western region, a Maoist stronghold, to track down guerrillas.

One of Friday's blasts targeted a government building in the ancient tourist town of Bhaktapur, just east of Kathmandu, causing some damage but no injuries.

The other explosion was in Kathmandu at the home of a former hotel chairman. It also caused damage but no casualties.

Police said there had no claims of responsibilty for the blasts, the latest in the capital in recent weeks. The Maoists denied in a statement that they had planted Friday's bombs.

There have been a series of explosions in Kathmandu in recent weeks.