November 16, 2002	Saturday	Ramazan 10, 1423

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KATHMANDU, Nov 15: Thousands of Maoist rebels stormed two remote Nepali towns, fighting pitched battles with security forces in which at least 118 people were killed.

About 3,000 rebels stormed the town of Jumla, 600kms northwest of Kathmandu, and used villagers as human shields during the night-long gunbattle.

At least 95 people, including 55 guerillas and 37 soldiers, were killed in the fighting there, the defence ministry said in a statement.

One top bureaucrat and two civilians also died.—Reuters