Nepali soldiers shot dead 14 Maoist rebels and rebels killed an activist of the Himalayan kingdom's ruling Nepali Congress party today, officials and media reports have said.
Police said their fight against the rebels had been given a boost by Interpol, which recently issued a notice similar to an arrest warrant against eight rebel leaders including Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, commonly known as Prachanda, and its senior leader, Babu Ram Bhattarai.
"The Red Corner Notice is like an arrest warrant and will help arrest the terrorists we are looking for if they move in 179 countries that are members of the Interpol," a police spokesman said.
Police said they did not know where the rebel leaders were hiding, but officials said the separatists had links with foreign groups. They did not give more details.
Soldiers shot dead 10 Maoist guerrillas in a gun battle at Naubasta 500 km west of Kathmandu and four others were killed in separate incidents elsewhere in western Nepal, a Defence Ministry statement said.
"Security forces have also recovered guns, pistols, bombs and explosives from the terrorists during operations," it said.
It did not say if soldiers suffered any casualties and there was no word from the rebels, who normally do not comment on the clashes in remote jungles in the Himalayan foothills.