Nepal Bus Bombing Kills 38, Injures 71

http://abcnews.go.com/ ^ | Jun 6, 2005 | BINAJ GURUBACHARYA

[Deetes]

ATMANDU, Nepal Jun 6, 2005 — Suspected rebels detonated a bomb beneath a crowded bus crossing a wooden bridge in Nepal's rural south Monday, officials said, killing at least 38 people and wounding the other 71 passengers on board in one of the bloodiest attacks against civilians since an insurgency broke out nearly a decade ago.

The army said it was certain the explosion was detonated by rebels fighting since 1996 to abolish Nepal's constitutional monarchy and set up a communist state. The attack came with no warning in an area many believed to be relatively safe from insurgent attacks. It was not known why the bus was targeted.

The rebels did not comment on the explosion and remain out of reach in their mountain bases.

The guerrillas have stepped up violence since Feb. 1, when King Gyanendra took control of the government and imposed a state of emergency subsequently lifted in April. The king said his February power grab was necessary to quell the communist insurgency, which has left more than 11,500 people dead.

The rebels, who claim to be inspired by Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, responded to the king's actions by shutting down highways and calling a general strike. They have repeatedly refused government calls for peace talks.

Government troops moved in after Monday's blast, searching for rebels and taking control of the area, 110 miles southwest of the capital, Katmandu.

The bus was traveling on a rural highway near the village of Badarmude when it was ripped apart by the explosion, killing 38 people and wounding 71, an army official said on condition of anonymity because of military policy. Everybody on board was either killed or wounded.

[Deetes]

Updated from another al jasucks....

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9F7BE0A5-E320-4C5B-BD03-7151D63A574F.htm

At least 53 people were killed and 72 wounded in southwestern Nepal when a powerful bomb ripped through a crowded passenger bus in one of the bloodiest attacks on civilians by suspected Maoist rebels since their revolt began nine years ago.