Kathmandu, Aug 06: At least five security personnel were killed and ten others injured when their vehicle was ambushed by Maoist insurgents in Panchthar district in eastern Nepal. State-run radio Nepal quoted a local police officer as saying the incident occurred yesterday at Gopetar in the hilly district bordering India. Four security personnel and the driver of the vehicle were killed. The ten personnel injured in the ambush were flown to Biratnagar and Kathmandu for treatment.

The Maoists appear to have intensified attacks on security personnel and abduction in recent days even as the third round of talks with the government is on the anvil. A home ministry statement, meanwhile, has called on the Maoists to stop the extortions, kidnapping and murder and implement the code of conduct saying the talks would be adversely affected unless such activities were stopped.

It has strongly denounced the ''heinous crimes'' committed by the insurgents during the cease-fire.

Bureau Report