Army Kills 50 Rebels as It Repels Attack

Soldiers repelled a Maoist rebel attack on a communications tower and killed at least 50 guerrillas, Nepal's Defense Ministry said.

Four soldiers were killed and eight wounded in the seven-hour battle Saturday night in Rammate, a village 250 miles west of the capital, Katmandu, the ministry said.

More than 300 guerrillas and 80 security force personnel have been killed since the Maoists abandoned a cease-fire last month and launched a series of attacks.