A crucial emergency meeting of the ruling Nepali Congress Party central committee began Sunday to assess and discuss the resumption of violence by Maoists last week to establish a communist republic in the kingdom. The meeting is expected to give the government directives to curb fresh Maoist violence after the failure of negotiations to resolve the issue amicably.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba asked the meeting be convened. At least 43 soldiers, policemen and civilians were killed and several dozen others were injured in the fresh round of violence launched by the rebels Friday night.

Four policemen were injured and a police outpost was destroyed in a Maoist bomb attack at a village in Ilam overnight, police said. Maoists launched violent attacks in more than 20 of the kingdom’s 75 administrative districts.

At least 14 soldiers were killed and more than 30 were injured in Dang Friday night when insurgents for the first time in targeted a military barrack in nearly six years. Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Prajwalla is cutting short a visit to Germany and returning home Sunday after the flare-up of violence, a source said.

Declaration of an emergency and declaring Maoists terrorists are options being discussed by the government as the security apparatus was put on high alert. A Home Ministry statement Saturday night said government “is committed to safeguarding the lives and property of the people.” Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka said at least 70 Maoists have died in the bloody violence.