KATHMANDU, Feb 17: Giving a new and deadly turn to their six-year old insurgency, Maoist insurgents carried out two armed attacks on Saturday night killing 128 security personnel, 100 of them in one spot.

Statements, separately issued by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the deadliest of the attack was reported from Mangalsen, a township in the far western hill district of Achham.

Four policemen were killed in a separate attack at a police post in the south-eastern district of Sarlahi.

Those killed in Mangalsen included chief district officer, an intelligence officer, 48 soldiers of the Royal Nepal Army and 49 members serving under the Nepal Police. One civilian was also reported killed. Casualty figures are expected to rise.

Official sources conceded that the rebels made use of sophisticated weapons they had looted from an army post in Daang district last November.

Security forces also killed scores of rebels, but only three bodies were found in the area which endured exchange of fire for several hours.

These latest tragic incidents are likely to dominate parliamentary debate on Monday (today) when members of 205-strong House of Representatives will take up Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s proposal to extend the state of emergency, announced on Nov 26, by another three months.

King Gyanendra declared the state of emergency on Deuba’s recommendation, and approved his decision to mobilize the Royal Nepal Army for quelling the rebellion. Maoists have been saying that their aim is to abolish monarchy and turn Nepal into a ‘people’s republic’.

About 2, 500 people have lost their lives since the insurgency began in February 1996.

AFP ADDS: The extension in emergency must be approved by two-thirds majority in parliament and Deuba’s ruling Nepali Congress controls 113 of the 205 parliamentary seats.