Security officials in Nepal say at least 16 Maoist rebels have been killed in clashes with soldiers.
The fighting took place near the village of Satyabati, about 250km (155 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu.
The authorities said at least 12 soldiers were injured in the clashes on Sunday. There has been no comment from the rebels yet.
Violence has escalated in Nepal after the rebels called off a four-month unilateral ceasefire last month.
An army official told the AFP news agency that the troops had recovered "16 bodies of the Maoists after the clash which lasted for almost two hours" on Sunday.
In a separate incident, two soldiers were killed in a rebel attack north-east of Kathmandu, officials said.
Nepal's armed forces have launched a major offensive against Maoist rebels in the mountainous south-western region, authorities have said.
Elections
The government refused to halt army offensives during the Maoist ceasefire, saying it did not trust the rebels.
After the truce ended, the rebels called a nationwide shutdown to try to disrupt this month's municipal elections.
The opposition and the rebels said the local elections were a sham to entrench the power of the king, who seized direct power in February 2005.
About 13,000 people have died in the 10-year Maoist insurgency.
Top Maoist leader Prachanda told the BBC recently the only future he saw for the king was exile or trial, possibly leading to execution.
King Gyanendra has called on the mainstream opposition political parties in the country to enter into dialogue and promote democracy.
(BBC)
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