KATHMANDU, Aug 31: Nine Maoist rebels and five security personnel were killed on Sunday in separate clashes in Nepal, the deadliest since the guerillas broke a truce and walked out of peace talks last week, officials said.

An army official told Reuters six rebels fighting to replace the constitutional monarchy with a communist republic were killed in a gunbattle at Kalimati Kalche, some 550 kilometres west of Kathmandu.

Two soldiers were also killed in the same gunbattle, while three policemen were killed when rebels attacked a security post in western Nepal, the official said.

Three Maoists were killed in another clash.

Security in the Himalayan kingdom has been on high alert since last week when rebels ended an eight-month truce and walked out of peace talks after the government rejected their demand for a new constitution. —Reuters