Sunday, May 9, 2004
Maoists kill 13 in Nepal bus attack
Reuters Kathmandu, May 9
Nepali Maoist rebels opened fire on a public bus on Sunday, killing at least 13 people including six civilians, in the Himalayan country's worst violence in a month, the army said.
The other victims were soldiers and a policeman on their way to work in Maina Pokhari, 150 km east of Kathmandu.
The rebels are fighting to topple the constitutional monarchy in the world's only Himalayan kingdom and establish communist rule. Almost 10,000 people have died since the revolt began in 1996.
The country has been racked by political crisis as well since King Gyanendra sacked an elected prime minister two years ago and appointed a royalist replacement.
© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2004.