Maoists attack prison in Nepal: 2 cops killed

The attack occurred Saturday evening in Charikot 180km east of Kathmandu, said Dolkha Chandi Acharya, the region's chief district officer.

Soldiers are hunting the rebels, he said.

"During the attacks from four sides two junior policemen who were in the jail were killed," Acharya said.

The rebels, fighting to replace the Himalayan kingdom's monarchy with a communist republic, also bombed half a dozen government offices during the raid in Charikot in Dolakha district, 150 km northeast of capital Kathmandu, a police officer told Reuters.

"They broke open the gate of the jail after killing the policemen and escaped with 33 inmates," he said on Sunday.

It was not clear if the rebels also suffered casualties during the midnight raid.

"The Maoists also set fire to seven government buildings including the local revenue office, police posts and the education, electricity and telecommunication offices," he said.

Nepali soldiers recovered 47 more bodies of Maoists killed in a raid on an army base two days ago, taking the toll of rebels to 97 in the deadliest clash in the country in five months, an army official said on Saturday.

The army said on Friday it killed at least 50 Maoists in the deadly overnight clash after the insurgents attacked their base with rocket launchers and mortars .

The official said on Saturday soldiers combing the forests and ravines recovered 47 more decomposing bodies near the base in Khara in the rebel heartland of Rukum, 520km west of Kathmandu.

The fighting on Thursday was believed to be the largest clash between rebels and police and troops since King Gyanendra sacked the government on February 1, criticising its failure to end the revolt.