Nepali soldiers found at least 36 bodies of Maoist rebels in a ditch in west Nepal today taking the toll from Thursday's gun battles to 90, government officials said.
The bodies were found in a field and were all in combat dress, Junior Interior Minister Mr Devendra Raj Kandel said.
The 90, including many policemen, were killed on Thursday when rebels attacked police posts using rocket launchers and bombs. The attacks, in western Dang district, were the deadliest against security forces since February.
The Maoists launched their rebellion in 1996 and stepped up their attacks after walking out of peace talks last year. Nepal has imposed a state of emergency to quell the revolt and given the army sweeping powers to crack down on the rebels.
A landmine blast by suspected Maoist rebels in western Nepal killed three people today, police said.