At least 22 Maoist rebels and two soldiers were killed in Nepal today in a gun battle between the guerrillas and government troops in the west of the country.
The latest battle took place in Arghakhanchi district, about 220 miles west of Kathmandu.
The fighting began after the rebels attacked an army patrol in the forested hills in the Maoist stronghold, the officer said.
Rebel violence has spiralled in the Himalayan country ahead of a January 13th deadline by the government to the insurgents to join peace talks.
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More than 80 people, about half of them soldiers, have been killed in the week before today's attack.