Maoists, ethnic activists fight in Nepal

KATMANDU, Nepal -- A fierce fight erupted Wednesday between Nepal's former communist rebels and ethnic rights activists trying to stage separate rallies in the same place, leaving 25 people dead and 35 wounded.

Maoists supporters and members of the Madeshi People's Rights Forum had both gathered at an open ground venue in Gaur, 100 miles south of the capital, Katmandu, said local police chief Ram Kumar Khanal.

The two sides argued over who had the right to use the land, and fighting quickly broke out, Khanal said.

"Shots were fired and they were fighting with each other using everything from sticks to knives," he said.

Khanal said 12 bodies were found at the site and 13 were recovered nearby.

Violence spread to surrounding areas, and police brought in reinforcements. A 13-hour curfew helped bring the situation under control, Khanal said.

Violence has been increasing in southern Nepal, where the Madeshi group has staged strikes, transport shutdowns and demonstrations since January to demand greater rights for the people of the region.

Since the Madeshi group formed last year, it has competed with the Maoists for public support among southern Nepalese. However, there had been only small, sporadic skirmishes between the two groups.

The Madeshi group is demanding greater autonomy, more seats in the national legislature and a guaranteed number of representatives from southern Nepal in the government. They allege the southern region has been sidelined in favor of the more populated mountainous areas in the north.

Wednesday's fighting came as the Maoists, who signed a peace accord ending their decade-long insurgency last year, prepare to join an interim government. The Maoists have pledged to disarm, confining their fighters and weapons to U.N. monitored camps.

However, the former rebels have been accused of not fully honoring the peace agreement, keeping weapons outside the camps, and pursuing illegal activities. Nepal's business community have been on strike since Tuesday to protest the Maoists' alleged kidnapping and extortion of businessmen.

Senior Maoists officials could not be reached for comment on the fight because they were in meetings with the government.

The United Nations said it sent a team to investigate.