December 10, 2001	Monday	Ramazan 24, 1422

KATHMANDU, Dec 9: At least 50 Maoists and four soldiers were killed in an overnight battle at an army post in western Nepal, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

A statement said soldiers killed the guerrillas when they attacked an army post at Ratmate in Rolpa district in west Nepal late on Saturday.

“About 50 to 60 bodies killed by the army were lying scattered around a telecom repeater station,” the ministry said. There was no immediate comment from the Maoists on the report.—Reuters