Hundreds of Nepalese anti-government guerrillas were killed Wednesday evening in a fierce fighting with the government troops, Radio Nepal reported.  

"At least eight armed police personnel and hundreds of rebels were killed in the latest clash at Khairi Khola area of Banke district in mid-western Nepal Wednesday evening," the state-run radio reported.

"The clash began at 5:00 PM local time (0915 GMT) and continued till 7:30 PM," said the radio.

The incident site is 40 km east of Nepalgunj City, a main center point of western Nepal.

At least eight security personnel including an inspector were killed, 21 others missing and a dozen injured when they were ambushed while going to clear the East-West Highway blocked by the guerrillas, said the report.

The roadway bridge over Khaire Khola has been completely damaged in a bomb explosion detonated by the guerrillas earlier Wednesday.

This is the fiercest fighting between the two sides in recent months. More than 10,000 Nepalese people have lost their lives since the anti-government insurgency broke out in early 1996.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2004)