Maoists killed 24 policemen overnight in an assault on a police outpost in Putalibazzar in Syangjha district, Dang and other centers causing extensive damage in co-ordinated attacks throughout the kingdom after unilaterally breaking a four month cease-fire to end a communist insurgency that has claimed more than 1,800 lives in nearly six years, official and independent reports said.

The rebels decamped with more than Rs.150 million looted from banks and finance companies in the district in Syangjha. Some reports said district headquarters in Syangjha and Dang fell to the rebels.

Insurgents abducted two policemen, the chief district officer and a major of the Royal Nepal Army at Ghorai in Dang, the home district of Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka.

Maoists attacked the army barracks and district police headquarters in the town. Reports are pouring in of more than a dozen attacks nation-wide. Army foiled an attempt by rebels to blow up a petroleum depot of the Nepal Oil Corporation in the capital.

The communist guerillas also attacked airport in Surkhet and blew up a helicopter of Asian Airlines and damaged other two choppers parked in the airport. Maoists also attacked several police posts and government offices in Baglung, Tanahu, Makwanpur, Morang, Kalikot and several other districts.

The attacks came three days after Maoist strongman Prachanda issued a statement saying the cease-fire to bring peace had no meaning. The fresh outbreak of violence indicates the rebels used the truce to re-group after being routed by the army in Holleri in far west Nepal in June to free more than 72 captured policemen in an attack on a police outpost.

Reports said more than 70 rebels were killed in the attack beginning the peace process. The government and rebels held three rounds of unfruitful talks to restore peace.