September 9, 2003	Tuesday	Rajab 11, 1424

KATHMANDU, Sept 8: Six bomb blasts hit Kathmandu on Monday, killing a 12-year-old boy and wounding about a dozen people in the worst attacks in the Nepali capital since a truce between the government and Maoist rebels collapsed.

No one claimed responsibility but an interior ministry official blamed the rebels, fighting to overthrow the constitutional monarchy and establish one-party communist rule, for the explosions at government installations.

The government imposed a night-time curfew in two upmarket areas of Kathmandu and security forces had been ordered to shoot on sight to prevent fresh attacks.

In west Nepal, fierce fighting between troops and the rebels was reported in Rolpa district, a Maoist hotbed , but officials said they had no information about casualties.

The bombs exploded almost simultaneously as people headed to work or school.

“I was in my morning prayers when a big bang shook the house. It was terrible,” 43-year-old resident Ajay Bhatta said about the attack in which the boy was killed.—Reuters