500 dead in Nepal

Up to 500 people are believed to have been killed in a massive night-long gun battle in Nepal. The Daily Telegraph today reports that the battle, which is being described as the bloodies since the armed Maoist insurgency began in 1996, took place in the Mygdi district, around 175 miles west of the capital Kathmandu. Colonel Gurung, the Nepalese army spokesman, is quoted as saying that 11 soldiers and seven police officers were killed in the battle and that the casualties on the Maoist side may be more than 500. Around 8,000 people have now lost their lives in eight years of fighting in the mountain kingdom. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, at www.fco.gov.uk/travel, states: ‘If trekking, you are advised to remain on established routes, and to walk in groups and with reputable trekking agencies. You should be aware of a travel warning issued by the US Government, which advises of threats against US citizens and urges them to defer non-essential travel to Nepal.’ It adds that the Maoists are calling for a general strike on 7 and 8 April; such events have historically led to travel chaos across the country. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad