Royal Nepalese Army has said five security personnel were killed and seven others injured when a group of Maoist rebels attacked at an army patrol at Karnali-Chisapani area in the far-western region on  Wednesday.

A statement issued by the Directorate of Public Relations of the RNA in Kathmandu said Thursday that casualty on part of the rebels could not be known. Search is underway in the area, the statement said.

The statement did not say anything about civilian casualties during the clashes.

Meanwhile, radio reports said over a dozen lives were lost in the clashes at Chisapani. Kathmandu-based Radio Sagarmatha F. M., a community radio, quoted Nepalgunj-based journalist Rameswor Bohara, who had visited the site of the clash, as saying that five security personnel, five civilians and at least three rebels had died during the clashes. He said security reinforcement had  reached the area only this morning.

Earlier, security sources said Thursday afternoon that  two-way gun battle had ensued after the rebels ambushed an army platoon along a stream near Karnali bridge in the far-western region. They said all the security personnel had now come into contact.

Rebels have claimed that there has been significant casualty on the part of the security forces. They said their three comrades were injured in the clashes.