The Nepali language daily Kantipur said that Maoist rebels killed two Nepali Congress party activists and one leftist United Marxist-Leninist worker in far West Nepal during several days of celebrations to mark the Hindu festival of Dasain. The guerrillas also killed a policeman in Janakpur district, about 150 km south east of here, the newspaper said.

One Nepali Congress worker was killed on Thursday in Jajatkot district, about 400 km west of here, at the height of the nine-day festival. The other Nepali Congress worker and the United Marxist-Leninist activist were killed on Friday in neighbouring Salyan district.

The policeman was killed on Friday evening in an attack on a temporary police post in Janakpur district. According to the paper, police patrolling the area had been relaxed during the festivities.