Nepalese officials say government troops have killed at least 16 Maoist rebels in fighting in western Nepal.
Army officials said Monday the rebels were killed Sunday after they attacked a security patrol around 300 kilometers west of the capital, Kathmandu. At least five soldiers were wounded in the fighting.
Authorities say troops are searching for more of the rebel attackers Monday.
Rebel attacks have been on the rise since the Maoists ended a ceasefire last month because, they say, the government refused to match the truce.
The Maoists are fighting to overthrow Nepal's monarchy and establish a single party communist republic. A decade of fighting has killed about 13,000 people.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.