'Eight Maoists killed' in Nepal

The Nepalese Defence Ministry says eight Maoist rebels have been killed in clashes with the security forces.

Six of the rebels were killed in the western district of Dadeldhura and the others in Gorkha and Sarlahi in the central region it said.

There is no word about any army casualties.

The ministry also said two children were injured when a bomb planted by the rebels went off near a hospital in Dhulikhel, near Kathmandu.

A military operation is currently underway to crush the Maoist rebels following the failure of peace talks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service