Maoist rebel attacks believed to have killed 48 Nepal policemen

Sunday, February 17th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) _ At least 48 policemen were feared killed when suspected Maoist rebels attacked a district headquarters and a nearby civilian airport in northwestern Nepal, police said Sunday.

In the worst assault since they abandoned peace talks last year, the suspected rebels attacked police at the district headquarters in Achham, about 375 miles northwest of the capital city of Katmandu Saturday night, a police officer said on condition of anonymity.

The officer said at least 26 policemen were feared killed in the assault.

The rebels then targeted a small airport at Sanphebaga and were reported to have killed 22 policemen, said a local police official who refused to give his name. There were no passengers at the airport at the time of the attack.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the death toll.

A gun battle between government forces and the suspected rebels lasted until early Sunday. Police reinforcements rushed to Magalsen on Sunday, but were delayed by bad weather and the mountainous terrain.

Those killed included the top district administrator of Achham, the police officer said.

Led by commander Prachanda _ whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal _ the guerrillas have been fighting in remote mountainous areas since 1996 to abolish Nepal's constitutional monarchy and create a communist republic.

More than 2,400 people have died in the fighting.

The rebels have called a general strike across Nepal on Feb. 22-23 to commemorate the sixth anniversary of their insurgency campaign.

Last week, suspected rebels detonated two bombs in government tax offices in Katmandu, wounding at least 10 people.

The government declared an emergency on Nov. 26 and ordered the army to join the fight against the rebels after they ended a four-month cease-fire and resumed attacks on government targets.

The army says it since has killed nearly 500 guerrillas and arrested another 1,400.

Officials say nearly 200 government soldiers and policemen also have been killed.

Last week, the State Department warned Americans about rebel attacks in Nepal, including areas visited by Western tourists.

The guerrillas had recently attacked Lukla, the main entry point for the Mount Everest trek, and other popular tourist destinations in the Solu Khumbu Valley, the advisory said.