The Nepalese government has promised a tough response to the weekend attacks by Maoist rebels that left over 100 people dead. Officials said that over 140 people, mostly soldiers and policemen, were killed during three separate offensives in Western and Southern Nepal.
The rebels have been fighting for six years, in an effort to topple the country's Constitutional Monarchy and implement a Communist Republic. The weekend attacks were some of the bloodiest since the insurgence began in 1996.
Nepal's security forces are on high alert following the attacks. The country's Home Minister has ruled out any talks with the rebels.
Khum Bahadur Khadka has vowed to "crush the terrorists completely". The government is set to authorise the security forces to use "all necessary means" to curb the uprising.
The attacks came as Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was preparing to ask parliament to extend a state of emergency. This was imposed on 26 November after the rebels broke a four-month ceasefire with the government.
The lower house of parliament is likely to vote on the issue on Thursday. Prime Minister Deuba needs a two-thirds majority for the extension.
