Suspected Maoist rebels shot dead 39 policemen and a civilian in a string of attacks on security posts across Nepal on the eve of the new king`s birthday, officials said on Saturday.
It was the worst violence in the troubled Himalayan kingdom since last month`s massacre of virtually the entire royal family by the crown prince, who then shot himself.
District official Harihar Sharma told that 21 police officers were killed at Bichour in Lamjung, 150 km (95 miles) west of Kathmandu and two officers were critically wounded. There were 24 policemen at the time of attack at the security post and one was safe," Sharma added.

He said the rebels also suffered some casualties since three unidentified bodies were found at the site of the clash, which lasted for over three hours.

Ten more policemen were killed and another three injured, one of them critically, at Taruka in Nuwakot district, 100 km (60 miles) northeast of the national capital, district official Mod Raj Dotel said.

Dotel said the rebels first ordered the police to surrender.
"Most of the policemen were killed when the rebels blew (up) the police post by a bomb after security personnel refused," Dotel said. He said two bodies, apparently rebels, had been found at the site.
A further eight police officers and a civilian cook were gunned down at Wami Taxar in Gulmi in western Nepal, another official said.

There was no word from the rebel group about the attacks.
Bureau Report