KATHMANDU, Dec 15: At least 19 soldiers and six Maoists were killed while 14 others were injured when the two sides clashed on Wednesday morning in far-western Nepal, a local security source said.

"At least 19 soldiers and six rebels were killed in clashes at Siddhipura in Arghakhanchi district (360 kilometres) west of Kathmandu," the source said on condition of anonymity.

While 12 soldiers and two rebels were injured, the source said. An army source quoting local witnesses said: "The rebels suffered a heavy loss while many others were injured."

The army official in Kathmandu confirmed the clash between the two sides on Wednesday morning at Arghakhanchi but did not give the number of casualties. -AFP