KATHMANDU, Nov 21: At least 66 Maoist rebels and 10 government troopers were killed in an overnight clash in Nepal's far-western Pandon village, an army officer said on Sunday.

"The clashes began on Saturday night and continued until Sunday morning at Pandon village in Kailali district," the officer said on condition of anonymity. "The bodies of 16 rebels were found from the clash site and 50 others were found 50 metres (yards) away," he said.

"In the clashes, 10 security personnel were killed while 16 others were injured." The number of fatalities could not immediately be verified by official sources.

The clash is the biggest since the ending on October 28 of a nine-day temporary truce between Maoist and government forces to allow people to celebrate the Hindu festival of Dashain in peace. The army officer said the bodies of the rebels had been found "scattered" around Pandon village.

"We have not yet decided whether we should collect the bodies of the rebels or to continue our operation against them," he said. The injured troopers were flown to Kathmandu for treatment. -AFP